Over 100 leaders pledge to end and reverse deforestation by 2039, in its first major agreement COP26 conference in Glasgow.
Among those who signed is Brazil, where large areas of rainforest in the Amazon have been cleared. This commitment includes funds amounting to $19.2 billion.
Experts in the field welcomed this development, but warned that a previous agreement in 2014 had failed to slow deforestation, and stressed that commitments must be implemented.
According to a statement from the UK Prime Minister's office, this declaration will cover forests covering more than 13 million square miles (over 33.7 square kilometers). «We will have an opportunity to end humanity's long history as a conqueror of nature and instead become its guardian,» said the British Prime Minister., Boris Johnson, referring to an unprecedented agreement.
Deforestation contributes to climate change because it reduces forests, which absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that «more leaders than ever before» – 110 – had made this historic commitment.
The countries that signed this commitment, including Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States, and the United Kingdom, cover approximately 85% of the world's forests. Part of the money will go to developing countries to restore damaged land, fight fires, and support indigenous communities.
In addition, the governments of 28 countries have also committed to removing deforestation from international trade in food and other agricultural products, such as soybeans, cocoa, etc. It should be noted that these industries contribute significantly to deforestation, as trees are cut down to make room for grazing animals or crops.
Forests absorb approximately 30% of carbon dioxide emissions., according to the non-profit organization World Resources Institute. Our world lost 258,000 square kilometers of forest in 2020, according to the Global Forest Watch initiative.
