Inaugural Session-Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation: A new role for the UN

Speaker: 
Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program.

Angela outlined the financial and environmental benefits of REDD, a package of challenges and opportunities she described as aiming to address the convergence between forest preservation and climate change. She went on to outline the mechanisms behind the UN-REDD Programme, and her hopes for Copenhagen.

According to Angela, the financial flows for greenhouse gas emission reductions from REDD could reach up to US$30 billion a year. She went on to say that this significant North-South flow of resources could reward a meaningful reduction of carbon emissions and could also support new, pro-poor development, help conserve biodiversity and secure vital ecosystem services. Further, maintaining forest ecosystems can contribute to increased resilience to climate change.