Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD Plus) via the Copenhagen Accord - Fall

Advisor: Kathleen Callahan

Forests support 80% of global biodiversity and regulate critical climate cycles, yet deforestation remains the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions—surpassing the entire global transportation sector. While trees naturally sequester carbon, cutting them down releases stored CO₂ and destroys future storage capacity. Despite this, economic drivers like timber, beef, and palm oil often outweigh the "unpaid" environmental services forests provide.

To bridge this economic gap, the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) framework was developed. Under the Copenhagen Accord, developed nations agree to compensate developing countries for keeping forests standing, recognizing "common but differentiated responsibilities."

To operationalize this, the proposed International REDD+ Program (IRP) serves as an umbrella organization to standardize funding and carbon accounting. The IRP implementation follows a three-phase transition from donor-based to market-based funding. The process involves:

• Technical & Financial Review: Ensuring scientific accuracy and budget integrity.
• Social Safeguards: Protecting indigenous rights through a Cross-Cutting Working Group.
• Verification: Utilizing REDD+ Accredited Verifiers (RAVs) for on-site inspections.

By providing a structured mechanism for the Green Climate Fund, the IRP transforms REDD+ from a conceptual pilot into a scalable, cost-effective solution to mitigate climate change while supporting global economic equity.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.