COP21 Special Issue

 

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This Special Issue, contains news and information related to REDD+ outcomes at UNFCCC COP21 in Paris held this month. Please feel free to share widely.





 
UNFCCC COP21 Special Issue: 17 December 2015 In This Issue:
TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS. SHARING KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD REDD+ CAPACITIES.
The UN-REDD Programme, its Partner Countries, collaborating UN agencies (FAO, UNDP, UNEP), and donors understand the important role of knowledge sharing in building REDD+ capacities. Each week, new information is made available to REDD+ practitioners around the globe through the UN-REDD Programme Online Collaborative Workspace. Users can also share their own knowledge and connect with each other to create networks. Learn More.
INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE: 
UNFCCC COP21 IN PARIS
Historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change: 
195 nations set path to keep temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius
An historic agreement to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future was agreed by 195 nations in Paris at COP21.  The Paris Agreement for the first time brings all nations into a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.  The universal agreement's main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Watch video of moment Paris Agreement announcement was made
It was an exciting moment in the plenary meeting room at COP21 when the Paris Agreement was realized. This short video takes you to this place in time, so that you can experience for yourself this landmark decision.
Forests included in landmark climate deal agreed in Paris at COP21
A landmark climate deal has been agreed to by representatives of 195 nations at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the agreement, forests feature as a key climate change mitigation tool, while previous COP decisions for a framework to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) were reaffirmed.
Join the Paris Pledge for Action // Rejoignez l'Appel de Paris
The Paris Pledge for Action represents a unique opportunity for non-state actors to welcome the Paris Agreement on climate change and commit to implement it.  By joining the pledge, businesses, cities, civil society groups, investors, regions, trade unions and other signatories promise to ensure that the ambition set out by the Paris Agreement is met or exceeded to limit global temperature rise to less than  2 degrees  Celsius. 

L'Appel de Paris  est une occasion unique pour les acteurs non-étatiques de saluer l'Accord de Paris pour le climat et de s'engager à le mettre en oeuvre.
En signant l'Appel, les entreprises, villes, groupes de la société civile, investisseurs, régions, syndicats et autres signataires s'engagent à faire en sorte que le niveau d'ambition énoncé par l'accord soit respecté voire dépassé pour maintenir le monde sur une voie qui limite la hausse des températures à moins de 2° Celsius.
UN to organize official ceremony in April for signing of the Paris Agreement // l'ONU va organiser une cérémonie officielle de signature de l'Accord de Paris en avril 
The Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, has said that an official ceremony is being organized for the signing of the Paris Agreement, at UN headquarters in New York on 22 April 2016 -- Earth Day.

Le Secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, a indiqué mardi, lors d'un exposé devant l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, qu'une cérémonie officielle de signature de l'Accord de Paris sur les changements climatiques, adopté samedi 12 décembre, aurait lieu le 22 avril 2016 au siège de l'ONU à New York. 
Government leaders at COP21 endorse forests as key climate solution: announce US$ 5 billion in funding
Heads of Government from major forest countries and partner countries joined together today to endorse forests as a key climate solution. They recommitted to providing strong, collective and urgent action to promote equitable rural economic development while slowing, halting and reversing deforestation and massively increasing forest restoration. Norway, the UK and Germany pledged US$ 5 billion to the initiative over the next five years.  
Learn more.
REDD+ leaders at COP21 reiterate value of UN-REDD Programme and role of forests to mitigate climate change
A panel of high-level REDD+ leaders convened 8 December evening at the UN Global Climate Conference in Paris and reiterated the important role of forests to mitigate climate change, and REDD+ as a catalyst for sustainable development. The multi-sector group included representatives of UN agencies, developing country government ministries, donors and indigenous peoples. They also reaffirmed the important post-2015 role of the UN-REDD Programme to support developing countries to realize the social, environmental and economic benefits of REDD+. 
REDD+ Day at COP21 highlights safeguards and finance
REDD+ Day was held on 7 December in the Rio Pavilion at COP21. In the morning, participants discussed country approaches to safeguards and safeguard information systems. In the afternoon, participants turned towards finance and policy issues, with panel sessions on: the economic rationale of REDD+, where and how REDD+ can deliver the most benefits, and innovations in private finance for REDD+. 
New REDD+ safeguards publications launched at COP21
The UN-REDD Programme launched a new set of four REDD+ Safeguards resource publications at COP21. Included are two publications in the Technical Resources series:  REDD+ Safeguards Information Systems: Practical Design Considerations and Country Approaches to REDD+ Safeguards: A Global Review of Initial Experiences and Emerging Lessons. 
UNFCCC Secretariat launches Forest Information Hub at COP21 and improves REDD+ Web Platform
A new forest information hub was launched by the UNFCCC secretariat at COP21. Called the  Lima REDD+ Information Hub , the platform contains a clear overview of verified actions that have been implemented voluntarily by developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. 
Learn more.  
Video: Dialogue on REDD+ reference levels at Global Landscapes Forum
Watch this Discussion Forum on the first day of the Global Landscapes Forum 2015, in Paris, France alongside COP21. The session provided an opportunity for the Republic of Congo, Zambia, Cambodia and DR Congo to present the status of their reference level submissions to the UNFCCC and discuss lessons learned.
Maria Sanz Sanchez of FAO and the UN-REDD Programme moderated and presented  on REDD+ forest reference emission levels progress and challenges in developing countries .
Watch video.
Video: Global Landscapes Forum 2015 -- Achim Steiner closing keynote
Executive Director of UNEP and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Achim Steiner, speaks at the high-level closing plenary session from the second day of the Global Landscapes Forum 2015, in Paris, France alongside COP21.
Watch. 
L'Afrique centrale abrite la deuxième plus grande forêt tropicale au monde. Jusqu'à présent largement épargnées par la destruction massive et principalement affectées par des activités à petite échelle, ces forêts sont désormais en concurrence directe avec d'autres nouvelles formes d'utilisation des terres. Dans l'esprit de la Déclaration Conjointe d'Intention, une coalition a créé l'Initiative pour la Forêt de l'Afrique Centrale.

Central Africa is home to the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. Forest loss is accelerating despite ongoing efforts, which have not been sufficient to establish an effective approach to simultaneously prevent forest loss and promote economic development. On this basis, a coalition has entered into a collaborative partnership referred to as the Central African Forest Initiative. 
Learn more. 
REDD+ Academy goes global at COP21
The first online version of the UN-REDD Programme's successful REDD+ Academy courses and accompanying Learning Journals were launched on the side lines of COP21 at the Global Landscapes Forum in Paris. This valuable knowledge resource is now available to REDD+ policymakers, practitioners and communities worldwide. 
Learn more. 
Twenty-one winners of the Equator Prize 2015, an international award that recognizes outstanding local achievement in advancing sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities were honored during a special event held during COP21.
2015 Emission Gap Report launched at COP21: Chapter on REDD+ highlights role of forests
Existing policies and strong engagement by nations who have submitted their climate change mitigation contributions  to the UNFCCC will limit anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, but a new climate agreement can encourage further action to limit global temperature rise to 2°C by 2100, according to the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) 2015 Emissions Gap Report. 

This resource is made possible through the generous support of the governments of Norway, the European Commission, Denmark, Luxembourg, Japan and Spain.

 

Content provided by UN-REDD Programme staff and partner countries. Additional content for this special issue provided by UNFCCC and other UN agencies.

 

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