By UN Rep Tara Scott, AWC Central Scotland
While I was waiting to enter this meeting about protecting global forests by the Office of the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, I felt excitement that I was able to attend this meeting. As the others around me were making their introductions to each other and declaring their field of scientific expertise, I thought, "I don’t possess their expertise, but I love trees and know it is extremely important to protect trees as they protect us.”
Jesse Young, a senior advisor in the office of Special Envoy for Climate Change at the US State Department and a negotiator of at the Paris Agreement, led this meeting. He and his team members were very excited about the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use to protect forests around the world, as it is something they had been working on for a long time. This declaration is an essential step towards attaining net zero emissions by 2050.
Mr. Young went over the different parts of the declaration and the funding that would be allocated to enable these changes to happen. He stated that the Global Forest Finance Pledge (GFFP) of $12 billion, which is being funded by 12 countries including the United States, would be used to assist developing countries to restore their forests by working with the people who live there. The causes of deforestation need to be addressed, as well as helping to provide the most vulnerable with employment. This funding will go towards forest management, helping farmers to restore land, improving land tenure systems, and aiding Indigenous Peoples.
The United States is also among the donors providing $1.5 billion of funding to protect the rainforest of the Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest in the world. While measures to protect these forests are put in place, there will also be a dedicated effort to create a sustainable green economy, work with the local communities on sustainable management of natural resources, and develop a data system to measure accountability. It is about addressing all facets of the dilemma to create the solution: the forests need to be protected, people need a source of income, and we must use resources responsibly.
Another $1.7 billion has been earmarked to give Indigenous People greater empowerment to continue to manage these forests. Indigenous People need more legal rights over their land. Too often, large corporations want to descend on their land to exploit natural resources such as palm oil, soy, and cocoa. In my own experience of Indigenous land being exploited, a company wanting to extract uranium from the buttes on Navajo land using in situ mining put the water table at great risk in Crownpoint, NM as well as caused a great disturbance to the environment. The same goes for the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would threaten the source of water for the Sioux people and show disrespect to their sovereignty. Funding is needed to protect the lands of Indigenous People.
Christina Chan, Senior Adaptation Advisor for the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, spoke of an emergency program with adaptation (where people change their ways) and resilience (the ability to handle or mitigate a situation) at the center of helping people deal with climate change. Ms. Chan stressed that governments need to help people by providing climate knowledge and proposing climate solutions; providing resources to enable vulnerable communities to make the adaptations needed to survive, i.e., dikes for floods, higher roads which will not flood, sustainable methods of farming /agriculture, building homes on higher ground, shelters for extreme storms; and making funding accessible for people on the frontline of climate change. Ms. Chan said that funds for the least developed countries have been increased by $20 million. Ms. Chan contributed to a documentary by the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee "Adapting to a Changing Climate" aimed at raising awareness on climate change adaptation.
At this session with the US Climate Envoy, the “America the Beautiful” plan launched by the Biden-Harris administration was discussed. This plan is to restore and conserve 30% of American land and bodies of water by 2030. The plan, which gives importance to locally-led initiatives and volunteer conservation efforts, has six focal points: more parks, supporting tribally-led conservation, greater access to outdoor recreation, increasing conservation of fish and wildlife habitats, rewarding voluntary conservation efforts of farmers, and creating jobs through restoration projects.
This session by the US Climate Envoy was engaging and informative. Mr. Young and Ms. Chan were friendly and down-to-Earth, making it easier for everyone to ask questions. The work done by this Envoy is important as they represent Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and advise on climate policies. I felt privileged being able to attend this session as there was room for just 34 attendees. Not only did I learn from the advisors, I also learned from the questions and statements made by those who attended. I am very grateful to Pam Perraud who made the delegation aware of this event.