LEAF Coalition Highlights from Climate Week NYC: Taking Action on Climate and Nature
Protecting Tropical Forests at Scale
Last month, Pará became the first state in Brazil set to secure finance from the LEAF Coalition to support its efforts to reduce deforestation, following the signing of a landmark agreement worth an estimated $180 million. Celebrating the deal at the LEAF Coalition Evening Reception at Climate Week NYC, Ministers from the U.K. and Norway joined United States Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, John Podesta, in urging corporates to help generate demand for high-integrity carbon markets.
"We want you to do everything you can within your own supply chains, but there’s also a role for credits like these." - United States Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, John Podesta
Attendees heard from the Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of Pará, Puyr Tembé, on the process behind generating high-integrity JREDD credits and the importance of the participation of Indigenous Peoples, explaining how the government is "strengthening its listening process" with the Indigenous territories.
"Indigenous Peoples, Quilombolas, Traditional Communities and Family Farmers, [are] not only heard but works together and [will] share the benefits." - Governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho
Driving Transformational Change for Forests, People and Climate
LEAF Coalition participants also had the opportunity to engage directly with Brazilian state Government officials and Indigenous leaders to discuss how investing in high-integrity jurisdictional REDD+ credits can help mobilize funding at the scale needed to end deforestation by 2030 while supporting corporate climate, nature and people goals.
Focusing on the Amazon rainforest, the panel and guests discussed the vital need for Indigenous rights and inclusion, the growing impacts of climate change and how investment via the voluntary carbon market (VCM) can provide part of the solution.
“There is a lot of money from the private sector for investments in carbon credits, but there needs to be a correct direction to maintain the integrity of the process.” - Jamey Mulligan, Head of Carbon Neutralization Science & Strategy, Amazon
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Protect or Restore? The Big Forest Question
LEAF joined forces with the NCS Alliance, Symbiosis Coalition, Salesforce, and 1t.org to discuss with an audience of over 100, incuding leading corporates and civil society members, whether businesses should prioritise protecting or restoring forests.
The panel, moderated by Giulia Carbone, Director of the NCS Alliance, brought together the heads of the two largest advance commitment initiatives focused on nature, Julia Strong of Symbiosis Coalition and Eron Bloomgarden of the LEAF Coalition; climate scientist, Dr Sarah Federman of Carbon Direct; Jennifer Tauli Corpuz of Nia Tero, representing the perspective of Indigenous Peoples; and Tim Christophersen of Salesforce, a member of both coalitions.
An overwhelming 83% of the audience stated that both protection (via emissions reductions) and restoration (via removals) should be prioritized in corporate sustainability strategies.
It is clear that businesses want to move forward with both approaches, following in the footsteps of organisations like Salesforce.?
"Not by next Climate Week, but this Climate Week. Today. Now." - Tim Christophersen, Vice President, Climate Action, Salesforce
What's next? Join LEAF at COP16, Bloom and COP29
Join us at upcoming events if you would like to discuss how participating in the LEAF Coalition can support your corporate climate, nature and people goals.
If you are unable to join us in person but would like to find out more, contact [email protected] to set up a meeting with a member of our team.