Rainforest Alliance

The human activities with the greatest impact on the land by far are farming and forestry, while the largest global industry bar none is tourism. Together, they generate more than 35 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions* that lead to climate change. That’s why the Rainforest Alliance is pursuing a systematic and coherent strategy to overhaul these sectors and to make them environmentally, economically and socially sustainable -- a strategy that can also contribute to global climate change mitigation.

Because the Rainforest Alliance is working to overhaul three of the key industries that contribute to climate change, we sent 18 representatives to participate in the ongoing United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 16 (COP16) -- the annual platform in the global effort to address climate change.

On the Table

So what’s in store for COP16? The conference -- which kicked off in Cancún, Mexico on November 29 and ends December 10 -- has brought together 194 countries to continue negotiations on international efforts to address climate change. Among the key topics on the table: reaching an agreement on a strategy for implementing REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation while promoting forest conservation) on a global scale. 

Much like last year, many within the global community hope for an international, legally binding treaty to emerge from the conference. Why? Because while posing an enforcement challenge, a legally binding treaty would arguably be the firmest expression of the international community’s determination to take immediate action on climate change while spurring markets, national governments and other actors into action.

Unfortunately, recent reports suggest that the likelihood of reaching a binding agreement on climate change at COP16 is slim. Nonetheless, the foreign minister of Mexico and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon have both indicated that progress on REDD+, agriculture, adaptation and mitigation, and other key climate issues can and should still be made in Cancún.

Why it Matters

“Whether or not it achieves a new treaty, Cancún matters,” says Rainforest Alliance president Tensie Whelan. “We need a comprehensive, binding agreement and all countries need to keep working for one in the near future. Meanwhile, COP16 may advance important decisions on implementing and financing REDD+ and other measures that will help developing countries conserve forests and improve land use. Making those decisions would be a major step forward.”

Understanding REDD+

REDD+ aims to use market incentives to reduce the emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while providing benefits like poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation.  Ultimately, REDD+ should make responsible forest management and conservation more lucrative than deforestation and forest degradation. “We support REDD+ and believe that it is a scalable, cost-effective way to mitigate climate change. Since both agriculture and forestry are ubiquitous -- and, when practiced responsibly, can reduce emissions, conserve native ecosystems and relieve pressures on threatened forests -- we believe that sustainable agriculture and forestry should be an integral part of a REDD+ system,” says Jeff Hayward, director of the Rainforest Alliance’s climate program.

The Rainforest Alliance Role

How does the Rainforest Alliance fit into the conference proceedings? In collaboration with our allies in governments, nonprofits and the private sector, we’re working at COP16 to strengthen support for REDD+, emphasizing the social and environmental co-benefits of REDD+ and the role that sustainable agriculture and forestry can play in its implementation. We’re also advocating for additional REDD+ demonstration projects -- projects are currently underway in Ghana, Honduras and Guatemala -- to help bring clarity to questions about the feasibility of implementing REDD+ on a broader scale.

In addition, we are highlighting the role of Forest Stewardship Council certification and sustainable forestry as a foundation for REDD+ and emphasizing the role that sustainable agriculture can play in combating climate change.

Learn more about the Rainforest Alliance’s position on REDD+ and our work to curb climate change.

Visit our blog to see live video updates from Rainforest Alliance staff attending COP16.

*According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, forestry accounts for some 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions while agriculture is responsible for roughly 14 percent of emissions. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that tourism is responsible for another five percent of total emissions.