While overall negotiations are slow and came to a complete stop yesterday due to ongoing dispute between developing and developed countries, REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries) negotiations went forward. Here's a briefing from John-O Niles, Director of the Tropical Forest Group:
"Earth Runs with REDD and Hangs in Balance
As climate change negotiations in Copenhagen drew to a screeching stop,
nations of the world made unprecedented progress to tackle deforestation.
The latest UN text on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing
countries (REDD) made enormous strides since earlier versions of the
agreement last week.
"We needed two critical pieces of text to catapult into a world where
developing nations could see real value for saving tropical forests," said
John O. Niles, director of the Tropical Forest Group. "Forests and forest
peoples worldwide need "early action" language to fast track financing to
save forests immediately. And the agreement needs clarification that
national forest reference emissions levels will be discussed and decided
with concrete timelines. Both of these critical dimensions of a new global
forest paradigm are now very much in play."
The new REDD text in the UN process is still being negotiated, and brackets
remain around these two key issues. The text from last week
<http://tropicalforestgroup.org/policy_pages/cop_15_press.html > did not
have language to force decisions on reference forest emissions levels. These
reference levels would set the level of deforestation developing nations
must get below for new conservation funding. The text was discussed until
nearly 3:00 in the morning.
Cara Peace, Tropical Forest Group's Assistant Director for Policy, said
"Saving tropical forests has positively catalyzed the climate change
negotiations - it is the only beacon in an otherwise dark night."
Although the larger negotiations for a new climate change accord have
stalled, REDD is the most advanced sector to meaningfully incentivize
national reductions in emissions. The current UN text on tropical forests
would also be a historic agreement with strong safeguards for indigenous
peoples and local forest communities. At almost 2:00 am local time, the Holy
See helped facilitate language on indigenous peoples rights under a REDD
deal.
Another diplomat outside the talks said there are talks aimed at a new fund
of many billions of dollars to support tropical forest conservation over the
next five years.
Said Mr. Niles, "The forest diplomats are doing their job. Now they need a
new Copenhagen accord to synchronize with and that is what the more than 100
confirmed heads of state are coming here to do.""
As climate change negotiations in Copenhagen drew to a screeching stop,
nations of the world made unprecedented progress to tackle deforestation.
The latest UN text on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing
countries (REDD) made enormous strides since earlier versions of the
agreement last week.
"We needed two critical pieces of text to catapult into a world where
developing nations could see real value for saving tropical forests," said
John O. Niles, director of the Tropical Forest Group. "Forests and forest
peoples worldwide need "early action" language to fast track financing to
save forests immediately. And the agreement needs clarification that
national forest reference emissions levels will be discussed and decided
with concrete timelines. Both of these critical dimensions of a new global
forest paradigm are now very much in play."
The new REDD text in the UN process is still being negotiated, and brackets
remain around these two key issues. The text from last week
<http://tropicalforestgroup.
have language to force decisions on reference forest emissions levels. These
reference levels would set the level of deforestation developing nations
must get below for new conservation funding. The text was discussed until
nearly 3:00 in the morning.
Cara Peace, Tropical Forest Group's Assistant Director for Policy, said
"Saving tropical forests has positively catalyzed the climate change
negotiations - it is the only beacon in an otherwise dark night."
Although the larger negotiations for a new climate change accord have
stalled, REDD is the most advanced sector to meaningfully incentivize
national reductions in emissions. The current UN text on tropical forests
would also be a historic agreement with strong safeguards for indigenous
peoples and local forest communities. At almost 2:00 am local time, the Holy
See helped facilitate language on indigenous peoples rights under a REDD
deal.
Another diplomat outside the talks said there are talks aimed at a new fund
of many billions of dollars to support tropical forest conservation over the
next five years.
Said Mr. Niles, "The forest diplomats are doing their job. Now they need a
new Copenhagen accord to synchronize with and that is what the more than 100
confirmed heads of state are coming here to do.""
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