Kunming

A snake-shaped robot is now patrolling 10-kilovolt power lines in Kunming, in southwest China. Developed by the Kunming Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid, the robot navigates obstacles autonomously and uses infrared, thermal imaging, and laser sensors to detect potential faults on the lines, reducing the need for workers to inspect high-voltage equipment manually.

New OECD analysis estimates biodiversity finance reached between USD 74.9 billion and USD 92.4 billion annually between 2023 and 2025. The figures provide a benchmark for how much public and private funding is flowing to nature-related projects worldwide, and are likely to feed into debates on closing the global biodiversity funding gap and meeting commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.