Many of China's borrowers have been forced to roll over their loans, reducing the debt’s ultimate value. In that context, accepting an immediate payment for environmental protections rather than uncertain payments in the future—while also accruing geopolitical goodwill at a moment when the United States is retreating from climate and environmental cooperation—may be the more strategic choice, Duke expert Elizabeth Losos told Inside Climate News.

Discover highlights from FY 2025 in this digital report. Covering July 2024 to June 2025, the report features actionable research, engagement with decision‑makers on emerging issues and hands‑on learning experiences that equip Duke students to lead.

A webinar hosted by The Pew Charitable Trusts featured a panel of experts (including Sara Mason of the Nicholas Institute) on how pay-for-success initiatives, public-private collaboration, and environmental markets can deliver numerous benefits. Mason noted the Nature Finance Case Study Library as a source of examples.

Debt distress, biodiversity loss and climate change are intertwined crises for developing countries. In a Policy Forum for Science, Duke University experts Elizabeth Losos, Alex Pfaff and Stuart Pimm propose four reforms to debt-for-nature swaps to help countries tackle these daunting challenges.