REDD+ side event at SB62: Focus on forests: Introducing the REDD+ Community of Practice

Background: The outcome of the first Global Stocktake (GST), adopted at COP28, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced action and international cooperation to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. It highlighted the critical role of enhanced efforts and support towards halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, in accordance with Article 5 of the Paris Agreement, which informs Parties when integrating forest-related action and support in their next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs 3.0), to be submitted ahead of COP30.

2024 and 2025 mark a turning point for enhanced visibility on forests and REDD+. Parties are preparing their NDCs 3.0, while new and evolving support options for forests point towards enhanced financing opportunities for mitigation actions in the forest sector. Among these is the operationalization of Article 6, which presents emerging opportunities for REDD+ activities, and the new permanent policy on results-based payments for REDD+ adopted by the Board of the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) last October.

COP 30 provides renewed momentum and visibility for forests. In parallel, the secretariat is operationalizing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), including technical expert review of biennial transparency reports and the concurrent technical analysis of REDD+ results. The experience with this process as well as the underlying data and capacities will put Parties in a better position to implement and report on REDD+ activities under different standards, while also ensuring consistency of information.

The side event is an opportunity for Parties to share their views on how to best use all of these elements in a strategic manner, with the aim to make progress towards halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. To support these efforts, the UNFCCC secretariat is undertaking new activities, including the establishment of a REDD+ Community of Practice – a hybrid platform to facilitate technical exchange among REDD+ stakeholders, foster peer learning, and strengthen the capacity of developing countries to implement and report on REDD+ activities. This side event offers a timely opportunity to reflect on recent developments, spotlight country experiences, and build momentum towards COP30. It is also a valuable opportunity to gather feedback on the concept of the REDD+ Community of Practice.

Objectives: In order to highlight the vital role of forests in achieving global climate goals, and to accelerate efforts toward zero deforestation by 2030, this event aims to:

• Emphasize the importance of halting and reversing deforestation by 2030 and explore how forest-related target are being integrated into NDCs 3.0;
• Present the latest developments in REDD+, which promote access to results-based finance;
• Introduce the upgraded REDD+ Web Platform and the newly launched REDD+ Community of Practice, designed to facilitate technical exchange and build capacity for REDD+ implementation;
• Provide a space for Parties and stakeholders to exchange experiences and discuss outstanding questions related to REDD+ implementation and support.

Impact and outcomes of the event: Participants will gain insights into national and international efforts to scale up REDD+ implementation in the context of the GST, NDCs 3.0, and the 2030 zero-deforestation goal. The event will showcase practical experiences from countries and donors, highlight current challenges and opportunities, and help identify concrete steps to strengthen REDD+ finance, capacity, and transparency. It will also serve to align expectations and generate momentum toward COP30 by encouraging coordinated and results-oriented action for forests.

Target audience:

• Parties interested in REDD+ implementation;
• Stakeholders interested in providing technical and/or financial support to REDD+ implementation, including technical experts, IGOs, NGOs, financial entities, academia.

Panelists:

• Brazil, Marco Túlio Scarpelli Cabral, Head, COP 30 Forests Unit
• Ghana, Roselyn Fosuah ADJEI, Director, Climate Change, National REDD+ Focal Point
• Green Climate Fund, Marc Dumas-Johansen, Agriculture, Forests and Food Security Specialist (GCF REDD+ Focal Point)
• United Kingdom, Sultana Bashir, Head, REDD+ Policy, International Forests Unit (DESNZ and FCDO)

Agenda: