COP26: World leaders commit to halt deforestation by 2030

World leaders gathered at the COP26 They will commit on Tuesday to halt deforestation in 2030 thanks to 19.2 billion dollars in public and private funds, a measure denounced by environmentalists as a “green light for another decade of forest destruction.”

“Countries ranging from the northern forests of Canada and Russia to the rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will support the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on forests and land use,” he advanced on Monday. the British presidency of the conference.

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The list of more than one hundred signatories brings together climate rebels such as Brazil, Russia or China, behind in their commitment against global warming, along with nations such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States or the countries of the European Union.

Together, “they comprise 85% of the world’s forests, an area of ​​more than 13 million square miles” or 33.6 million km2, according to the statement.

“Never before so many leaders, from all regions, representing all types of forests, had joined forces in this way,” should say the president of Colombia, Iván Duque, at the 100 event according to an extract released by the organizers .

His country will commit to legislate to set a goal of zero deforestation by 2030 and protect 30% of its land and ocean resources by that date.

Parallel to this announcement by 100 leaders, the US Ford Foundation indicated that $ 1.7 billion will be dedicated specifically to indigenous peoples.

This alliance of five countries together with 17 private donors aims to “support the rights of indigenous peoples and their role as guardians of forests and nature,” the statement explained.

The Amazon “cannot survive”

But the big announcement from the 100 leaders was greeted like a splash of cold water by environmental groups like Greenpeace.

“There is a very good reason why (Brazilian President Jair) Bolsonaro felt comfortable signing this new agreement,” denounced Carolina Pasquali, executive director of Greenpeace Brazil. This “allows another decade of forest destruction and is not binding,” he added.

“The Amazon is already on the brink and cannot survive more years of deforestation. Indigenous peoples are calling for 80% of the Amazon to be protected by 2025, and they are right, it is what is needed. The climate and the natural world cannot afford this agreement ”, he stressed.

Forests and jungles absorb almost a third of the global CO2 emitted by the burning of fossil fuels, but every minute a forest area equivalent to 27 football fields is lost, according to the presidency of COP26.

On the other hand, 23% of global CO2 emissions come from activities such as logging, deforestation and agriculture, and 1.6 billion people – almost 25% of the world’s population – depend on forests for their livelihoods.

The commitment to “stop and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030” includes an “unprecedented package of economic and political commitments,” said the British government.

These measures will be supported by a fund of $ 12 billion of public money contributed by 12 countries between 2021 and 2025, plus $ 7.2 billion of private investment by more than 30 global financial institutions, including giants such as Aviva, Schroders and Axa. .

The measures should support activities in developing countries such as the restoration of degraded lands, the fight against forest fires and the defense of the rights of indigenous communities.

Likewise, 28 governments representing 75% of the global trade in key commodities that can threaten forests – such as palm oil, cocoa and soybeans – must sign another declaration pledging to reduce pressure on forests, supporting the small farmers and improving the transparency of supply chains.

Thanks to “these unprecedented commitments, we will have the opportunity to end humanity’s long history as the conqueror of nature and to become its custodian,” according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

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Deshawn