How the Glasgow Declaration on Forests can help keep alive the 1.5 °C target

Gasser, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4882-2647, Ciais, P., & Lewis, S. L. (2022). How the Glasgow Declaration on Forests can help keep alive the 1.5 °C target. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119 (23) e2200519119. 10.1073/pnas.2200519119.

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Abstract

At last year’s 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, 141 countries committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It was part of one of several side deals designed to keep the objectives of the Paris agreement within reach. The UK government boasted that these nations had made a landmark pledge to end deforestation.

Yet, one crucial detail was left out: whether that deforestation will be gross or net. The distinction matters, because differing interpretations of how countries can “end deforestation” significantly impact future carbon dioxide emissions. Put simply, ending gross deforestation would be a major step forward for the climate. But considering only net deforestation could be anecdotal and even be detrimental to biodiversity.

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