Climate action must start small, think big, act at scale on three key regions

A reflection from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, argues that coordinated action on the Amazon, Borneo, and the Hindu Kush Himalaya can provide a template for policymakers to serve people and the planet. The author notes that after an intense three days with 170 organizations including WWF, businesses, investors, and policymakers, only 18% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals seem achievable by 2030. Progress has been weak due to insufficient impact, lack of money, and political will. The three regions hold vast terrestrial carbon, sustain at least one-quarter of all known species, and secure water, food, and energy for billions. Threats include deforestation, peat destruction, glacial melt, and uncoordinated development risking irreversible tipping points.