Policy-makers and negotiators have improved knowledge on a REDD+ mechanism for sustainable emissions reductions by cooperating with civil society in Tropical Forest Countries

This advocacy work, which resulted among others in improved safeguard information systems, benefitted from the cooperation with civil society organizations from Tropical Forest Countries, who provided decision-makers and negotiators with key knowledge of the situation on the ground.

The purpose of the project was that a number of policy makers and negotiators have supported and promoted a REDD+ mechanism that ensures sustainable and additional global emission reductions, contributes to social and environmental benefits and attracts sustainable finance.

Why did Norway decide to support this project?

The project was relevant to the goals of the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), namely establishment of global REDD+ mechanism that also ensures other social and environmental benefits (so-called non-carbon benefits) beyond carbon trading. By securing a rights-based and environmentally sound approach, with binding safeguards for the interest of forest peoples and for protection of natural forest and biological diversity, the project was also relevant to the overarching goal of Norwegian development aid.

Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway have acknowledged an increasing discussion internationally on how a comprehensive and centralized mechanism that relies on payment for social and environmental benefits would be crucial to ensure lasting results for REDD+.

The two organizations reported that decision makers involved in REDD+ lacked a clear understanding of the role and implications of different incentives structures that would promote emission reductions. In this context, they also reported the need for further guidance on the implementation of safeguards, specifically the safeguards information systems (SIS).

Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway have since 2008 tracked the REDD+ negotiations and achieved progress towards consensus on an effective REDD+ mechanism. Both organizations gained experience from the international negotiating processes, having represented the Norwegian NGOs in the government delegation to the UNFCCC .

Because of the high relevance of the project and the competence of the two organizations, Norad decided to support the project. The project of Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway focused on the following outcome:
“A number of decision-makers have supported and promoted a REDD+ mechanism which ensures sustainable and additional global emission reductions, contributes to social and environmental benefits and attracts sustainable finance.”

Please find Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway final results report to Norad on this outcome in the PDF file <here/in the box to the right>. The information presented is written by Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway. Their presentations and conclusions do not necessarily reflect the views of Norad. 

Results

Norad assesses that the efforts of Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway have improved the knowledge of a number of decision makers, by collaborating with civil society organizations from affected countries. This improved knowledge has contributed to enhanced safeguard information systems under the UNFCCC. Several decision makers have also promoted the inclusion of social and environmental benefits as an important element for REDD+ under the UNFCCC. It is however difficult to directly attribute such support to the knowledge gained from this specific project. It is also unclear how social and environmental benefits under REDD+ will be operationalized. Finally, the project has not been able to achieve a mechanism that attracts sustainable finance, as incentives for scaled-up and predicable finance for REDD+ have not been realized yet.

Following, the results and risks of the project are explained in more detail.

Before and during the project, Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway have actively advocated for the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS). In June 2015 the UNFCCC adopted a decision on SIS, which indicated the elements on the safeguards that should be reported by countries implementing REDD+ before they can receive result-based finance. In this context, several low- and middle income countries, including the Philippines, had advocated for improved safeguards using reports and briefings issued by Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway.

The cooperation with civil society organizations in affected countries has given strength and relevance to the advocacy work of Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway. Civil society organizations have provided relevant input to decision-makers about the situation on the ground. The implementers of the project have also frequently met and consulted with several civil society organizations outside of international fora and brought their insights and concerns into the negotiation process.

Civil society organizations, including Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway, and countries like the Philippines and some African countries advocated for the inclusion of social and environmental benefits under the UNFCCC. The inclusion of non-carbon benefits in REDD+ was acknowledged as an important element under the UNFCCC. However, this acknowledgment does not provide sufficient details on how the inclusion of non-carbon benefits will be operationalized and achieved.

Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway have developed in-depth reports that problematized specific topics in the negotiations. The two organizations have published, together with other civil society organizations, a report on the role of forests and land-use in climate mitigation, which received much attention from policy-makers. The recommendations of the report were only partially reflected in the Paris Agreement, but could serve as a basis for future work on REDD+.

The major risk of the project was related to the political will to achieve the outcome of the project. Friends of the Earth Norway and Rainforest Foundation Norway report that their main efforts were aimed to increase the political will around REDD+ , and to make it part of the negotiations of the UNFCCC, which was achieved. However, the uncertainties on how to operationalize the inclusion of non-carbon benefits in REDD+ remain.

A second risk was related to the differing opinions among civil society organizations, as some of them have actively resisted REDD+. In this regard, Friends of the Earth Norway report that they have participated in events on REDD+ outside of international fora in order to reduce differences of opinion. Norad considers the indicated risks to be outside of the control of the project.