On June 27, Global Forest Watch, operated by the World Resources Institute (WRI), reported that tropical primary forest loss in 2022 will total 4.1 million hectares, an area the size of Switzerland. Brazil is responsible for 43% of the world's primary forest loss, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana in Africa have also experienced record levels of primary forest destruction. In contrast, Indonesia and Malaysia reported reduced forest loss, perhaps due to industry regulation and corporate engagement.

The climate change debate suggests that the Earth is reaching a tipping point, a point of dramatic and irreversible change caused by anthropogenic economic activities during the Anthropocene epoch. A paper published on June 22 in Nature Sustainability warned of the possibility of an even earlier ecosystem collapse due to the correlation of multiple stresses, such as global warming caused by human economic activities, environmental impacts, and disruptive factors such as extreme events.

On June 20, the UN Secretary-General issued a statement expressing his disappointment with the delays in the procedures and negotiations for food and fertilizer exports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative and stressed the importance of continuing the Basic Agreement with Russia. Meanwhile, it was reported on June 24 that the Russian private military company Wagner, which participated in the invasion of Ukraine, had withdrawn after turning against the invasion once in southern Russia, and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the food supply chain remains high.

The concept of “net-zero" refers to offsetting carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activities by subtracting carbon absorption and removal. While every country is committed to achieving net zero, in order to realize a world "leaving no one behind", it is essential to improve production in agriculture, forestry and livestock in countries that still face food and nutrition security challenges, and the promotion and diffusion of innovations that can be compatible with reducing greenhouse gas emissions is urgently needed.

As the frequency of extreme weather events increases with climate change, the impact of extreme droughts and floods on food systems and agricultural productivity is a growing concern. A recent paper published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment predicts that global warming will lead to an increase in the frequency of so-called flash droughts, which are accompanied by rapid drying, with significant impacts on agriculture and food systems.

Today marks the 800th Pick up article. Tomorrow, June 17, is the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Desertification is a global problem, with serious consequences for biodiversity, the environment, poverty, socio-economics, and sustainable development. This year's theme is "Her Land. Her Rights.” and calls for women to be at the forefront of efforts to restore land and recover from drought. JIRCAS is committed to solving the problems of desertification and land degradation through the development and dissemination of sustainable land management technologies.

A senior United Nations official has reportedly expressed concern about environmental degradation in the "breadbasket of the world," raising fears of a food crisis over the collapse of a dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine's Kherson Oblast. It is also reported that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has helped avert a global food crisis by guaranteeing exports of Ukrainian grain, is being used by the UN to mediate as Russia flirts with the possibility of withdrawing from the agreement.

Methane from cow and sheep burps is one of the greenhouse gases thought to have a significant impact on climate change. Recently, it has been shown that methane emissions from cattle can be reduced by feeding them seaweed. The seaweed called Asparagopsis is particularly effective in suppressing methane emissions and has attracted considerable interest. The cultivation of seaweed for methane reduction is now being started all over the world and is expected to become a new seaweed industry.

June 8th is World Oceans Day. Today's Pick Up features "World Ocean Outlook 2023," written by the World Ocean Initiative of the Economist Group, publisher of The Economist. The report focuses on solutions and actions to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution in the context of a sustainable blue economy.