Climate 411

Bonn 2025: Charting the Path to COP30 and Enhanced Climate Action

By Sarah Swain and Zach Cohen / Published: June 12, 2025

2025 June Climate Meetings. UNFCCC/ Amira Grotendiek

Next week, the international climate community will convene in Bonn for the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (June 16-26, 2025), or SB62. SB62 marks a critical milestone on the road to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, shaping the preparation and setting the stage for the negotiations.  

The meetings in Bonn will be guided by a central principle set by COP30 Presidency: the idea of “global mutirão,” the power of collective action to achieve goals no single actor can accomplish alone. Brazil has launched this initiative to identify common ground across regions and sectors, finding areas of convergence that can drive ambitious climate action forward. The Presidency has underscored the urgent need for this collaborative approach, particularly at SB62, to rebuild the multilateral trust strained during COP29 and by widening geopolitical rifts.  

Answering the global call for climate action, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is putting the spirit of “mutirão” into practice. At its core, EDF’s “mutirão” is already in our DNA. We play a unique role working with partners and allies across society – from local communities, major companies, Indigenous Peoples, governments and more – to find the shared goals that lead to groundbreaking solutions. Embracing collaboration and partnership has led us to impactful wins for planet and people: from supporting Indigenous Peoples’ participation in UN spaces to conserve forests, to gathering national oil companies together under an ambitious goal to slash methane emissions. Our commitment to this inclusive approach is essential for rebuilding the global trust needed for swift, fair, and ambitious climate action that delivers.  

Here are the thematic issues and topics EDF will be actively engaged in during SB62:

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Also posted in Agriculture, Brazil, Climate Finance, International, News, Oceans, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Tagged , , , , | Authors: , / Leave a comment

Empowering Indigenous Voices: Bridging government, communities, and carbon markets in Kenya

By Edgar Godoy and Santiago Garcia / Published: April 15, 2025
Facilitators walk through carbon market principles, empowering IPLCs to advocate for their rights and interests.

Participants at a carbon markets workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. Facilitators walk through carbon market principles, empowering Indigenous People and local communities to advocate for their rights and interests. Photo by Diego Acosta-López/EDF.

Last week, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry of Kenya, MPIDO, and IMPACT, convened a transformative workshop in Nairobi that brought together government officials and representatives from Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The event marked a significant step forward in fostering meaningful dialogue, co-learning, and collaborative planning as Kenya positions itself within the evolving carbon market space.

This workshop equipped IPLC leaders with essential tools and knowledge to effectively engage in carbon markets, ensuring their rights are upheld and that they can benefit equitably from Kenya’s climate initiatives. EDF specialists led sessions on the fundamentals of carbon markets, robust monitoring and reporting systems, and the critical roles that both IPLCs and government institutions play in shaping a fair and inclusive market framework.

By the conclusion of the workshop, participants had collaboratively drafted a preliminary roadmap for IPLC engagement in Kenya’s carbon markets. This roadmap includes strategies for equitable benefit-sharing, participation in decision-making, and adherence to social and environmental safeguards.

Why this workshop came at a critical time
Kenya is at a decisive point in its climate leadership journey. In 2023, the country passed amendments to its Climate Change Act (National Assembly Bill No. 42), laying the legal foundation for participation in international carbon markets. The new framework enables Kenya to engage in bilateral carbon trading as well as global mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. In the same year, Kenya also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the LEAF Coalition, signaling its commitment to pursue high-integrity carbon finance solutions that support forest conservation.

These policy shifts have generated growing interest among IPLCs, who recognize the potential of REDD+ and other climate finance mechanisms to contribute to sustainable development. However, they also raised important questions about rights protections, cultural preservation, and the long-term implications of these initiatives on traditional land-use systems.

The Nairobi workshop served as a foundational moment to ensure that IPLCs are not only well-informed but are active co-creators in the development of Kenya’s carbon market strategies.

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Also posted in Carbon Markets, Forest protection, Paris Agreement, REDD+ / Authors: , / Comments are closed

A Landmark Decision for Indigenous Rights: The Inter-American Court Protects Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation in Ecuador

By Guest Author / Published: March 24, 2025

 

Alicia Cahuiya, Vice President of the Waorani Nationality of Ecuador (NAWE). Daniel Cima, Wikimedia

This post was co-authored by David Cordero-Heredia, Professor of Law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and Visiting Scholar for Cornell University’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies program, and Santiago Garcia Lloré, Acting Director Forest Partnerships, Environmental Defense Fund 

Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation (IPLVI) are communities that have chosen to avoid contact with the outside world. They maintain their traditional ways of life deep within remote forests and inaccessible regions. Their territories are among the most pristine and ecologically significant areas on the planet; IPLVIs play a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation.

On March 13, 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Indigenous Peoples Tagaeri and Taromenane v. Ecuador. The Court declared Ecuador internationally responsible for violating multiple human rights of the Tagaeri and Taromenane, Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation (IPLVI) in the western Amazon after violent attacks in 2003, 2006, and 2013, leading to deaths of IPLVI members (IACHR, 2024).

The ruling found that Ecuador violated the rights to collective property, self-determination, dignified life, health, food, cultural identity, a healthy environment, housing, life, judicial guarantees, and judicial protection of the Tagaeri and Taromenane. Additionally, the Court held the state responsible for violating the personal integrity, freedom, dignity, family protection, childhood rights, identity, movement, residence, cultural identity, health, and judicial guarantees of two Indigenous girls who were forcibly separated after a 2013 attack.

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Also posted in Forest protection, International, News / Authors: / Comments are closed

Forests and People – The Roots of Our Future

By Santiago Garcia and Bärbel Henneberger / Published: March 21, 2025

Kichwa woman harvesting cocoa in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Photo: Wiñak

Every year, the International Day of Forests reminds us of the indispensable role forests play in sustaining life. In 2025, the theme “Forests and Foods” sheds light on an often-overlooked reality—forests are not just scenic landscapes brimming with wildlife but fundamental to human survival. From food security and nutrition to livelihoods and ecosystem stability, forests are the backbone of our planet’s well-being.

While forests contribute only 0.6% of the global food supply, their importance goes far beyond calories. Forest foods are vital supplements during lean seasons and serve as safety nets for vulnerable households. Moreover, forests support 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, offering an invaluable reservoir of genetic resources that could help communities adapt to climate change. Access to wild foods diversifies diets and income sources, strengthening resilience in the face of environmental and economic shocks.

Forests are far more than economic assets; they are the silent architects of ecosystems and societies. Over a billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods, particularly Indigenous communities, who depend on them for food, shelter, medicine, and water. However, their significance extends beyond material resources. Forests are deeply woven into cultural identities, shaping traditional knowledge, fostering community, and strengthening local values through deep emotional and spiritual connections to the land.

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Also posted in Carbon Markets, Forest protection, International, REDD+ / Authors: , / Comments are closed

The Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ Road to COP30 at Belém: An Outlook for 2025

By Bärbel Henneberger / Published: January 29, 2025

Kleber Karipuna, President of APIB and Coordinator of the Global Alliance, presenting strategies for effective participation at COP30. Photo by Bärbel Henneberger, EDF

By Bärbel Henneberger, Senior Partnerships Manager, Environmental Defense Fund

For Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) organizations of the Americas, 2025 brings fresh expectations. For the first time, the UNFCCC COP30 will take place in the Amazon Basin,  hosted by the city of Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará. This will present a unique opportunity to cast global attention to the challenges and potential solutions unfolding in the wider Amazon region.

For context, the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, is also the largest and most vulnerable deforestation front. WWF estimates that 20 percent of its biome has been lost already, and that 27 percent will be without trees by 2030 if the current rate of forest loss continues. For IPLCs, the forest is the home that sustains all life.

Last week, during a workshop on Indigenous economy, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) organizations from South and Meso America met in the Ecuadorian Amazon to discuss the state of tropical forests and the role of IPLC´s sustainable initiatives. Despite all efforts, illegal timber and gold mining are still powerful drivers of deforestation and the destruction of entire landscapes in the Amazon. However, a call was made for the sustainable use of Nature, and concrete examples were presented of the actions that should be implemented to ensure sustainable forest management. IPLC organizations also agreed that Indigenous bioeconomy will be a key topic to be presented at COP30.

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Also posted in Forest protection, Latino partnerships, United Nations / Tagged , , , , , | Authors: / Comments are closed

Ecuador Announces Milestone in Halting Tropical Deforestation

By Santiago Garcia / Published: January 29, 2025

Inés María Manzano, Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador and Eron Bloomgarden, CEO Emergent (LEAF Coalition) at the official signing event in Ecuador, January 29,2025. Photo by Santiago Garcia, EDF.

By Santiago García Lloré, Senior Manager of IPLC and Conservation Partnerships at EDF.

Ecuador is one of nine countries in the Amazon rainforest. It is also known as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world — its unique ecological heritage includes the famous Galápagos Islands.

Following Costa Rica, Ghana, and the State of Para in Brazil, Ecuador signed an Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) under the LEAF Coalition’s carbon finance framework to reduce 3 million tons of carbon emissions in exchange for $30M. (3 million tons of carbon emissions roughly equal the annual emissions of about 570,000 average passenger cars.)

The deal covers four Ecuadorian jurisdictions and is a shining example of deploying carbon finance that advances equitable participation from diverse groups. In Ecuador’s case, this process has resulted in the inclusion of Afro-Ecuadorian communities, who, like many other Indigenous communities in the region, have traditionally been marginalized. This showcases progress toward a more inclusive and representative model.

EDF has been privileged to support Ecuador in this journey over the past several years. Our efforts have focused on building the technical capacity, policy frameworks, and stakeholder engagement processes needed to bring this ambitious program to life. Here are a few things we’ve learned that are critical to ensuring integrity and bolstering climate ambition.

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Also posted in Carbon Markets, Forest protection, Latino partnerships, News, REDD+ / Tagged , , , , , | Authors: / Comments are closed