STATEMENT: Glasgow Leaders Issue Declaration on Forests and Land Use
GLASGOW (November 2, 2021)—On the second day of the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow, over 100 countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030. In the plan, global leaders affirmed the role of forests in balancing greenhouse gas emissions and removals, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and maintaining healthy ecosystem services. They called for “transformative” action through shared efforts to conserve forests, promote sustainable trade and development policies, reduce human vulnerabilities, redesign agricultural policies, and increase financial incentives in the name of a “sustainable land use transition”.
Following is a statement from Rod Taylor, Forest Program Global Director, World Resources Institute:
“This announcement sends an undeniable message that forests are critical to meeting global climate goals. Ending deforestation is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C. Recent analysis from WRI shows that the world’s forests can absorb 1.5 times more carbon than the United States emits annually.
“Countries representing over 85% of the world’s forest signed onto the agreement – including Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which house the largest tracts of tropical forests, as well as the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest market economies.
“Of course, we have seen bold forest pledges before and deforestation rates are still trending in the wrong direction. For example, primary forest loss in 2020 was 12% higher than the year before.
“In order to make real progress, the declaration must herald new ways of doing business, including far more accountability. For example, countries need to insert concrete forest protection measures into trade agreements and national development plans.
“We need more investment in forests, such as the $9 billion commitment from the U.S., and $1 billion from the public-private LEAF Coalition. The finance sector must stop financing deforestation, as institutions managing over $8.7 trillion in global assets have just vowed to do. These resources must be plentiful enough to create a real incentive for developing countries to prevent deforestation and support farmers in transitioning to sustainable land use practices.
“We also need a step-change in transparency. The boundaries and owners of permits and licenses to use forests and land should no longer be secret. The origins of commodities should be disclosed, and governments and companies should openly monitor and report their progress towards the goals of the declaration.
“Perhaps most importantly, we will be looking for countries to take concrete steps to secure the rights, livelihoods and cultural heritage of the Indigenous Peoples and communities who live in and around vulnerable forests. Country donors and private funders pledged $1.7 billion in support of raising visibility and assigning ‘design-making roles’ to Indigenous Peoples and local communities helping to prevent deforestation.
“Together, these steps can ensure that the admirable vision set forth in today’s announcement translates into real action that halts deforestation and combats the climate crisis.”
STATEMENT: World Leaders Summit at COP26 Ramps Up Climate Action, But More is Needed
GLASGOW (November 2, 2021)—After two days of high-level announcements and speeches, the World Leaders Summit at COP26 has concluded. More than 100 heads of state and government took the podium to set the tone for the much-anticipated UN climate conference. Over the coming days, negotiators will continue working towards a formal outcome on November 12.
Following is a statement from Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:
“The first two days of COP26 offered the world a sharp reminder of the urgent need to accelerate climate action. You can feel a sense of excitement and determination to move the agenda forward. Many leaders announced serious new climate plans, partnerships and finance commitments. Now attention shifts to the negotiators who need to work together to deliver what is necessary to accelerate climate action this decade.
“Among the highlights of the first days were commitments to halt deforestation by 2030 and significantly cut methane emissions, along with a number of new net-zero pledges and increased commitments on adaptation finance. One of the most awaited announcements was India’s suite of near-term actions for a strengthened 2030 climate plan and commitment to reach net-zero by 2070. There were also new finance commitments by countries like Japan, Spain and Switzerland. Scotland pledged a million pounds to support developing countries experiencing losses and damage from climate impacts beyond what they can adapt to, the first of its kind.
“The world has made major strides since the Paris Agreement was forged, though action is still not fast or ambitious enough. Before Paris, the planet was on a path to heat up as much as 4°C by the end of this century. WRI research shows that if countries achieve their 2030 emissions reduction targets and their net-zero goals, we could limit temperature rise to about 2°C. While still insufficient, this progress is largely thanks to the Paris Agreement, which called for countries to come back together regularly to ratchet up their ambition and finance.
“We are looking for countries to build on this momentum in the coming days. Negotiators must work to spur a renewed spirit of solidarity. Developed countries should come forward with details on their additional financial pledges to meet the $100 billion annual commitment — including making up for any shortfalls — and agree on the process for setting the next goal of financial support to developing countries. Major emitters with insufficient 2030 climate plans should agree to come back to the table with stronger ones by 2023. Outside the negotiations, countries, businesses, investors and other actors should back their bold promises with action, financial resources and accountability.
“These climate talks, disrupted by COVID and threatened by mistrust, can either be a turning point or another missed opportunity. We hope negotiators seize the opportunity to move the world closer to a zero-carbon, resilient and more prosperous future.”
RELEASE: AFR100 Issues COP27 Challenge to Mobilize $2 Billion for Africa’s Locally Led Land Restoration Movement
This press release is reposted from the AFR100 Initiative.
GLASGOW (November 2, 2021)—By COP27, which will be held on African soil, funders must invest $2 billion in AFR100, the continent’s locally led campaign to restore vitality to 100 million hectares of degraded and deforested land. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda; Nancy Tembo, Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources of the Republic of Malawi; and Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria issued that challenge today at COP26.
The African Development Bank, Government of Germany, Global Environment Facility, Bezos Earth Fund, the Global EverGreening Alliance, and Green Climate Fund responded, announcing their plan to significantly invest in land restoration by 2026 and have called on their peers to join them in mobilizing that $2 billion in investable capital by COP27 in November 2022.
“Africa is home to the world’s greatest restoration opportunity, with 700 million hectares of degraded land that can be restored. Africa is the continent most dependent on the land for livelihoods, and most vulnerable to climate change. Africa must therefore lead the way. We warmly welcome partnership with ambitious funders like the Bezos Earth Fund,” said Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could push an estimated 30 million Africans into extreme poverty, land restoration — with a return of $7-30 for every $1 spent — has become a critical tool to improve food security and create sustainable jobs. The impacts of climate change make these types of solutions all the more urgent: The most recent IPCC report shows that several African regions like the Sahel will experience rising temperatures, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of people and nature. If desertification continues to advance unchecked, the decline in revenue from cereal crops alone could cost people in Africa $4.6 trillion through 2030.
It’s clear that Africa needs to massively and quickly restore nature and farmland to reduce poverty, reverse biodiversity loss and store planet-warming greenhouse gases — and local action is the only path toward success. An initial $2 billion investment in the work of NGOs, entrepreneurs and government-led projects could catalyze $15 billion of funding. That larger sum could begin the restoration of a potential 20 million hectares by 2026 and bring an estimated $135 billion in benefits to 40 million people.
“Local communities own and manage nearly 70% of Africa’s land. That is why a future where rural Africa’s landscapes are fully restored is only possible if we believe in and fund the work of thousands of community groups and leaders, especially young people, women and entrepreneurs,” said Wanjira Mathai, Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute (WRI), and Friend of COP26.
Combined with a robust financial architecture anchored in Africa that can channel million-dollar investments to people restoring land, in-depth technical assistance, and a comprehensive system to track progress, these investments would kickstart the second phase of AFR100. Thirty-two countries have joined that engine of restoration replication and pledged to restore nearly 128 million hectares since COP21 in 2015.
“Africa is where the opportunity is the greatest, where the need is greatest, and where vulnerability to climate change is greatest. It is also where political commitment is increasingly the greatest, as heads of state and governments more and more recognize that investing their natural capital has one of the highest returns,” said Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. “With enough flexible capital, the blossoming of a thousand locally led projects and businesses can realize the AFR100 vision of high-quality restoration work that builds climate-resilient and thriving rural communities. Please count on us!”
“One billion dollars in funding will support landscape restoration, with an initial focus on Africa and the U.S. Restoration efforts in Africa will include planting trees on degraded landscapes, revitalizing grasslands, and integrating trees into farmland,” added a press release issued by the Bezos Earth Fund. “This work will help drive critical outcomes that include climate benefits, food security, job creation, economic growth, soil fertility, and improved connectivity between protected areas to protect biodiversity. The Bezos Earth Fund will partner with Africa-owned partners, including AFR100, to deliver these benefits at scale.”
To start this new phase of AFR100 with local action, a group of funders (Bezos Earth Fund, One Tree Planted, Good Energies Foundation, DOEN Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Facebook) announced an initial investment in these innovators. After receiving more than 3,200 applications for funding across 31 African countries, WRI, One Tree Planted and Realize Impact will provide 100 grants and loans of $50,000 USD to $500,000 USD to community-based non-profits and local businesses. The first cohort of 20 organizations that will receive capital from this “TerraFund for AFR100” was announced today (details here).
“Mayors know that local action is the cornerstone of transformative change,” said Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone. “Building up the capacity of entrepreneurs and community organizations is how we plan on growing 1 million trees by 2022. I am thrilled that AFR100 will help our champions realize their dream of turning our city into a ‘Treetown’ that will help our people thrive for decades to come.”
Partners will independently monitor and report on each project with a combination of field verification techniques and satellite monitoring with support from the new Land & Carbon Lab initiative.
“AFR100 presents an opportunity for both the private and public sectors to demonstrate large-scale transformative action to restore degraded land. That action would not only mitigate climate change, but also help secure millions of livelihoods and agricultural supply chains. Diversified financing instruments are needed now if we are to achieve this grand ambition by 2030,” said Charles Karangwa, Regional Head of Land Systems for Africa, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Learn more about AFR100 at www.afr100.org.
About AFR100
The African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) is an African-led initiative uniting 31 countries to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. It contributes to the global Bonn Challenge, the African Union Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and other targets. The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) serves as its Secretariat.