9 December | CoP 14 – Poznan, Poland

Seminar followed by networking reception. Forests are biological sinks that permanently stabilise and sequester carbon since the beginning of life on the planet. They have covered vast areas of the earth’s surface for millennia, and to date contain around 60 per cent of the carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems. However, global organic carbon sinks are decreasing. 20 per cent of global emissions come from the forestry sector as a result of deforestation, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable forms of land-use and lacking reforestation. In addition to climate change these developments cause a range of serious problems that range from the loss of biodiversity, over the erosion of valuable soil to the destruction of entire watersheds. Permanent maintenance of existing forests, regeneration of degraded forests as well as re-establishment of forest cover on degraded land are key to reduce concentration of atmospheric carbon permanently. The UNEP FI CCWG organised the event in partnership with international legal practice firm Norton Rose and the Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA) to explore adequate risk management tools to assure permanence in the context of a future international agreement, taking into consideration legal, financial and practical aspects.

Background Document

Speakers and Presentations