Temperate forests represent a significant resource and perform important ecosystems services,but are threatened due to agricultural expansion, climate change and deforestation The FSC certification imposes several rigorous criteria covering conservation and sustainability, as well as human rights, but it does not always ensure that forests are not negatively impacted The EUTR prohibits illegally-harvested timber from being commercialised in EU markets but gaps in implementation by Member States diminish its effectiveness

The Cartagena Protocol sets out a precautionary approach to the trade of GMOs with the goal of protecting global biodiversity The Protocol gives importing countries the right to reject GMO goods on environmental or health concerns It was the first international agreement to formalise the cross-border movement of GMOs

The climate and biodiversity crises are interconnected. By becoming “nature positive”, humankind would enhance its resilience and simultaneously reduce GHGs. “Nature positive by 2030” means not only immediately halting biodiversity depletion, but also restoring nature and becoming net positive by 2030.

The purpose of the RAMSAR convention is to protect wetland habitats such as coral reefs, marshes, swamps, underground cave systems, peat bogs and mangroves (plus many more). To date, 170 countries have ratified The RAMSAR Convention and an estimated 250 million hectares of wetlands are protected under it.

In Part 1, we explored the context and content of Silent Spring, investigating the relevance of the post-war period in the history of environmentalism. We also considered the threat agricultural DDT poses to ecosystems as well as Carson’s gentle scholarship. Today, we discuss the fallout from the chemical industry, see how it mirrors the persisting climate denial of today, as well as Carson’s enduring legacy in the field of environmentalism.