Sharm El Sheikh, 14 November 2022 (TDI): The establishment of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh marked a significant advancement in sustainable forest management and protection.
FCLP attempts to coordinate initiatives by corporations, governments, and community leaders. Moreover, the Partnership intends to advance the implementation of the commitment made at COP26 in Glasgow by over 140 countries.
This is aimed to stop forest loss and land degradation by 2030 and turn ambition into reality. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a significant study this year.
It emphasizes the need to increase action to realize forests’ full potential in combating climate change and biodiversity loss.
Furthermore, the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is yet to be achieved.
This can be done by stepping up efforts to tackle deforestation and implementing other mitigating measures in the forest sector.
In addition, 27 nations have already signed on to the new partnership. They are dedicated to setting the standard high in FCLP’s action areas. Additionally, these nations account for more than 60% of the global GDP and 33% of the world’s forests.
The action areas include securing public and donor funding to assist with implementation along with assisting local communities and indigenous peoples’ activities and preservation of high-integrity forests.
According to Gustavo Manrique Miranda, Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Water, “this alliance is an opportunity to minimize deforestation. This can improve forest restoration, and strengthen the livelihoods of those living in forest areas.”
“Only with healthy forests can we deliver on our shared climate commitments under the Paris Agreement,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “We can only address biodiversity if our woods are healthy & undamaged”.
Accountability
The FCLP will have yearly meetings and release an annual Worldwide Progress Report. This will contain independent evaluations of global progress toward the 2030 target. Also, check on the advancements made by FCLP will be ensured.
REDD+
Meanwhile, under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism, poor nations are continuing to take tangible efforts to safeguard forests.
With the help of results-based incentives for emissions reductions made in the forestry industry, REDD+ offers a framework for climate action in the forest.
The increasing political and financial support for REDD+ demonstrated at COP27 is giving the programme new life.
