COP27 – How Forests Are a Part of Solution to Climate Change
The 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations, also known as COP27, is currently underway in Egypt. Beginning in 1992 as an international treaty, the conference convenes annually to discuss international cooperation to combat climate change. Nature-based solutions to climate action – and within that, working forests – continue to be a key part of the solution sets being discussed on this global stage. As the world continues to look to the forest for answers, public and private partnerships, like Keeping Forests, will continue to provide measurable conservation value.
Telling Forestry’s Story
This year, we have observed many forestry-related businesses and groups participating in the COP27 events, focused on highlighting the benefits that forests provide to clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, renewable products and sustainable communities..
Enviva Biomass, a Keeping Forests partner, participated at COP27 as a part of the Sustainable Innovation Forum.
Jens Price Wolf, Enviva's Vice President of Commercial, General Manager Europe, highlighted his experience at COP27, connecting with global leaders and discussing how government policies and investments into sustainably sourced biomass can support the clean energy transition."It has been a great few days discussing bioenergy’s important contribution to the climate change fight along with discussions on U.S. exports and jobs. We have reaffirmed support from members of the U.S. congress to mobilize more sustainable biomass to reduce the need for industrial coal. This must be done to reduce global GHG emissions. The fight doesn’t end here - as leaders, we all must keep the momentum going long after COP27 ends."
NCX, a forest carbon marketplace, also presented as a part of the Sustainable Innovation Forum. NXC Chief Executive Officer Zack Parisa said via social media, “I believe voluntary carbon markets will be a precursor to policy that works effectively, because there is so much room for innovation in the way we account for immensely valuable things in nature. We know forests are worth more alive than dead, and we need to measure them and put them on the same economic footing as all of the things we purchase."
Global Commitment to Sustainable Forest Management
With the whole world watching the United Nations’ COP27 climate change conference in Egypt, the White House announced a groundbreaking Nature Based Solutions Roadmap and $25 billion in infrastructure and climate funding to scale-up nature-based solutions.
The roadmap is extensive and covers a wide range of conservation related issues. The one most relevant to the Keeping Forests partnership is labeled ‘Prioritize Research, Innovation, Knowledge, and Adaptive Learning’. According to the roadmap, we will see this administration encourage agencies to, “ask how these [nature-based] solutions can be used to increase equity and environmental justice in climate resilience.” It’s clear that there will be coming opportunities for market-driven conservation collaboratives to pursue new opportunities moving forward with the support both domestically and abroad.
COP27 will continue through November 18th. To learn more about the United Nations Climate Change Conference, please visit https://unfccc.int/. To watch replays and other content from COP27, please visit https://cop27.eg/
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Zach Clifton
Keeping Forests Communications Specialist
Zach supports Keeping Forests via its partnership with the Georgia Forestry Association. Zach and the other communications staff at GFA lend support to the partnership both strategically & tactically.
