UNFCCC (REDD)

"United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries."

The idea behind reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation is simple: Countries that are willing and able to reduce emissions from deforestation should be financially compensated for doing so. Other, previous approaches which aimed to curb global deforestation have so far been unsuccessful, however the REDD initiative now provides a new framework to allow deforesting countries to break this historic trend.

Deforestation is occurring at an astonishing rate of approximately 13 million hectares per year throughout the rainforest nations, an area around 50 times the size of Luxembourg. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity loss. It also results in the release of carbon dioxide (with small amounts of carbon monoxide and methane), a major cause of climate change. REDD mechanisms aim to deliver multiple benefits. In addition to mitigating climate change, REDD can support livelihoods, maintain vital ecosystem services and preserve globally significant biodiversity.

REDD is primarily about emissions reductions. The Bali Action Plan decided at the Conference of the Parties (COP) at its thirteenth session states that a comprehensive approach to mitigate climate change should include: “Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries” also the REDD mechanism has the potential to deliver much more. REDD could simultaneously address climate change and rural poverty, while conserving biodiversity and sustaining vital ecosystem services.