DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AND CLIMATE CHANGE News Release (Ref: 2008/1) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 14 October 2008
The international
community should enable rainforest countries to halve
deforestation by 2020 and make the global forest sector
'carbon neutral' by 2030. This is the recommendation of
an independent report to the Prime Minister published today.
The Eliasch Review, 'Climate Change: Financing Global
Forests', is an independent report commissioned by the Prime
Minister and led by Johan Eliasch, Special Representative on
Deforestation. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the
financing and mechanisms needed to support sustainable management
of forests and reduce emissions associated with deforestation.
The Review finds that:
- The international community should aim to support forest
nations to halve deforestation by 2020 and make the global forest
sector 'carbon neutral' by 2030 - i.e. with emissions
from forest loss balanced by new forest growth.
- Reducing emissions from deforestation should be fully included
in any post-2012 global climate deal at Copenhagen.
- National Governments should develop their own strategies to
combat deforestation in forest countries, including establishing
baselines, targets and effective governance and distribution of finances.
- In the long term, the forest sector should be included in
global carbon markets.
- Public and private sector funding will be needed in the short
to medium term as carbon markets grow.
- The international community should provide support for capacity
building where necessary. Total capacity building costs are
estimated at up to $4 billion over 5 years for 40 forest nations.
Mr Eliasch said:
"Saving forests is critical for tackling climate change.
Without action on deforestation, avoiding the worst impacts of
climate change will be next to impossible, and could lead to
additional climate change damages of $1 trillion a year by 2100.
"Including the forest sector in a new global deal could
reduce the costs of tackling climate change by up to 50% and
therefore achieve deeper cuts in emissions, as well as reducing
poverty in some of the world's poorest areas and protecting biodiversity.
"Deforestation will continue as long as cutting down and
burning trees is more economic than preserving them. Access to
finance from carbon markets and other funding initiatives will be
essential for supporting forest nations to meet this challenge."
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband welcomed the
report: "Deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of global
carbon emissions. I welcome this report's contribution to the
global debate about how we address this. It will help us chart a
course to reduce deforestation, help the world's poorest
people and cut carbon emissions.
"I hope it can help the vital process of securing agreement
on climate change in Copenhagen."
International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander said:
"With more than a billion of the poorest people on our planet
dependent on forests to provide them with a livelihood,
today's report highlights the challenges we face in
reconciling the short-term interests of individuals with the
global challenge of tackling climate change."
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea said:
"Papua New Guinea welcomes the Eliasch Review as it
highlights the fundamental role of carbon markets over the medium
to long term while emphasizing the need for a comprehensive
approach in the shorter term. Within the context of the current
global financial instability, we must urgently identify mitigation
strategies that are lower-cost and quickly implementable -
reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries
offers exactly that potential! Accordingly, on behalf of the
Coalition for Rainforest Nations, we will work closely with Prime
Minister Brown to take forward the best ideas from this Review."
Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno-Ugarte of Costa Rica said:
"The Costa Rica experience supports many of the findings
from the Eliasch Review - with dedicated resources, creative
institutions and a sound legal framework, deforestation can be
reversed and forest cover expanded. For Costa Rica to be
successful towards our goal of carbon neutrality by 2021, we will
require international support to scale-up our efforts to conserve
existing forests and increase reforestation and restoration
activities. Only through an integrated approach to forestry, can
we push back the effects of climate change. Today we have a
historical opportunity to make things right and correct the
mistakes of the past."
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia said:
"As the world acknowledged last year in Bali, we cannot win
the battle against climate change unless tropical forests are
fully integrated within a post-2012 agreement. The necessary
methodologies and technologies exist. What remains is capacity
building and the mobilization of the necessary international
resources. We look forward to working with the Government of the
United Kingdom on the important issues of tropical forestry and
climate change."
Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International
Development Erik Solheim said: "The Norwegian government
welcomes the Eliasch Review as an important contribution to the
discussion of developing a mechanism for including deforestation
and forest degradation in a new climate regime. We look forward to
working with Prime Minister Brown, the British government and
other partners to take this vital effort forward."
Notes for editors
1. The full report can be seen online at http://www.occ.gov.uk.
2. Gordon Brown commissioned Johan Eliasch to produce the Eliasch
Review, in his capacity as Special Representative on deforestation
and clean energy.
3. The Eliasch Review is an independent report to government. It
aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of international
financing to reduce forest loss and its associated impacts on
climate change. It does so with particular reference to the
international debate surrounding the potential for a new global
climate change deal in Copenhagen at the end of 2009
4. The Review draws on a large amount of existing research,
responses to a stakeholder consultation and visits to various
countries. A range of new research and analysis was undertaken by
the review and commissioned from external experts. Summaries of
some of this research are available at http://www.occ.gov.uk
5. Media enquiries: 020 7270 8869