{"id":21816,"date":"2021-11-01T13:07:07","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T18:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=21816"},"modified":"2021-12-03T16:48:45","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T21:48:45","slug":"whats-in-store-for-forests-at-cop-and-why-you-should-be-excited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2021\/11\/01\/whats-in-store-for-forests-at-cop-and-why-you-should-be-excited\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s in store for forests at COP\u2014and why you should be excited"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post was coauthored by Ruben Lubowski.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Amazon Canopy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stakeholders from all over the world are gathering in Glasgow for the COP26, which is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal climate change convenings. While participants will discuss how to tackle climate change and build back better (and greener), they will also focus on how to mobilize support and resources to reduce tropical deforestation.<\/p>\n

Halting tropical deforestation is indispensable for meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature rise to 1.5C and for enhancing global climate action. Although forests are not included in the official negotiation agenda, during COP stakeholders will have the opportunity to turn discussion into commitments, action and finance to reduce emissions from deforestation. EDF will be closely tracking<\/a> and contributing to these developments. Here\u2019s what you should keep an eye on.<\/p>\n

Overview of high-level developments related to forests<\/strong>
\nThe COP Presidency has made it very clear that forests are essential to meeting the presidency\u2019s goal<\/a> to \u201csecure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach.\u201d As countries consider how to enhance the ambition of their 2030 emissions reductions targets, the presidency has suggested that they will need to curtail deforestation, to deliver on these goals. To help do this, COP President Alok Sharma<\/a> stated that \u201cAt COP26, we will work with partners to take forward action on protecting and restoring forests and critical ecosystems, and we will champion the transition towards sustainable, resilient and nature positive agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forests will also feature prominently during the World Leaders Summit, taking place Nov. 1 \u2013 2. Forests and land use are expected to be one of the four pillars that world leaders will discuss<\/a> in the context of what concrete actions and credible plans they can deliver to achieve COP goals and coordinate action to tackle climate change. Lastly, the UK has also launched the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue with Indonesia as co-chairs. The dialogue<\/a> is aiming to encourage both producer and consumer countries to collaborate to reform global trade in agricultural commodities to \u201cprotect forests and other ecosystems while promoting trade and development.\u201d During COP26, FACT participant will develop a shared roadmap of actions that outlines how to advance shared international commitments and national development objectives; the roadmap will be published at the World Leaders Summit.<\/p>\n

What are EDF and partners up to? <\/strong>
\nIn addition to engaging in discussions related to the developments referenced above, EDF is also organizing several sessions around the importance of halting and reversing tropical forest loss to meeting global climate goals, enhancing climate ambition, supporting the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and conserving biodiversity. In particular, EDF will focus on highlighting the vital role that tropical forest protection at scale, well-designed carbon markets for tropical forest carbon credits and scaled public-public private finance can play in helping to limit global warming to well below a 2 degree Celsius temperature increase\u2014aiming for 1.5 degrees Celsius, as discussed in a recent article in Environmental Research Letters<\/a>. You can find a full list of all of EDF\u2019s events and information for how to tune in here.<\/a><\/p>\n

As an official sponsor of the N4C Nature Zone<\/a>, which aims to \u201cto bring to life the momentum, action, and impact that surrounds NCS (natural climate solutions) and to create a coherent and integrated experience for the nature theme across COP26,\u201d EDF will host several sessions related to forests and nature:<\/p>\n