Joint Statement Supporting Forests, Rights, and Lands for Climate
“As leaders of philanthropic organizations, we are participating in the Global Climate Action Summit by stepping up our support to protect, restore, and expand forests, make land use more sustainable, and secure the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, who are the best stewards of their lands, territories, and forests.
Forests and lands are critical to the fight against climate change. They already remove 30% of the carbon emissions added to the atmosphere each year, and could provide an additional 30% of the mitigation needed by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. But forests and lands receive only 3% of the funding for climate action. If we hope to achieve global climate goals, investments in conserving forests and lands must urgently increase to match their potential for slowing climate change.
Together, we support:
- Land use policies and finance that help achieve ambitious climate targets and contribute to sustainable development.
- Policies that protect and recognize the role of forests and sustainable land use in supporting rural livelihoods and alleviating poverty.
- Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ land rights and management of forests, and an end to the violence against and criminalization of environmental defenders.
- Expanded, protected, and restored national parks, conservation areas, and forests that respect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and their right to free, prior, and informed consent; and
- Agricultural production and investments that support a transition to sustainable food systems, do not cause deforestation or rural violence, preserve biodiversity, and improve soil health.
Through our funding commitments to these shared priorities, we hope to inspire new and deeper investments – from other foundations, from governments, and from businesses – to finance a shift toward sustainable and rights-based land use and forest management and away from short-term resource depletion that leaves communities, economies, and the planet impoverished.
Forests are fundamental to life on Earth. Billions of people depend on forests for food, water, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Forests support biodiversity, including a rich array of plant and animal life, and provide clean water and clean air. Diverse indigenous and local cultures have traditions, beliefs, and livelihoods that are inextricably tied to forests. Their guardianship of forests and lands is vital. Healthy forests make the world more resilient to the impacts of climate change and are essential to securing a more stable, livable climate for us all.
We stand together in our resolve to conserve the world’s forests and lands for the benefit of all people and the planet.”
This statement was released on the 11th of September, 2018 on the eve of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, California.
Signatories:
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Related to SDG 13: Climate action, SDG 15: Life on land and SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
