The UK has offered funding in order to help fight climate change in forest-rich nations in an effort to support global climate change movements.
At the COP29 summit, it pledged £239 million to halt and reverse deforestation in countries such as Colombia and Indonesia. In doing so, it has acknowledged the critical roles of forests in these countries as "carbon sinks" that absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere annually than the UK and USA emit combined.
The commitment of the previous government of £11.6bn towards climate finance from 2021/22 to 2025/26 will continue to be honoured. This includes at least £3 billion on nature, from which £1.5 billion will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests.
In order to ensure global heating remains under 1.5°C, stopping and reversing forest loss is important. This forms part of the UK's global commitment to protecting biodiversity, and meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
As tropical forests are home to two-thirds of the world's biodiversity and 80 percent of global terrestrial biodiversity, they ensure a liveable climate, where people, animals and flora can thrive. Some of the wildlife such as orangutans, tigers and jaguars are under threat.
This value was recognised during COP29, where the UK made its pledge alongside representatives of the presidencies for COP29 in Azerbaijan and COP30 in Brazil.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband highlighted how "Forests are the lungs of our planet – without them climate security is impossible. We're determined to play our part in mobilising finance to protect and restore global forests in these critical years for climate action.
The climate crisis has no borders and these issues impact people back home in the UK – we're already seeing the damage flooding and record heatwaves can do to businesses and the most vulnerable in our communities.
Providing this funding now helps prevent the escalating costs of climate catastrophe at home and abroad, this is what the UK means by climate leadership."
The £239 million funding consists of:
Through these measures, funding will be provided which will help to:
This also reflects the government's commitment to the COP26 forest pledge, which aims to reverse forest loss by 2030.
Funding from Round One of the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme will help to support a further 20 projects which will deliver lasting change to the marine environment and coast communities across the world.
UK Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis said "Urgent action is needed to address the nature and climate crisis – we cannot tackle one crisis while ignoring the other. Global cooperation is vital to improve the health and resilience of our planet for future generations."
At COP29, the UK continues to lead the way – providing vital funding for forests and oceans and working to ensure the global economy functions in a way that protects and restores nature.
The world's forests will be better protected after the support announced by the UK to help countries with vital tropical forests conserve nature, livelihoods and wildlife.
