The UN surprises everyone with a breakthrough deal to slow deforestation

John Light · Saturday, June 13, 2015, 10:12 am
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Originally published on Grist.
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A surprise deal emerged from UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, this week: diplomats managed to reach a key agreement to compensate developing nations that agree to preserve their forests. And environmental and civil society groups had generally nice things to say about the deal.
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Deforestation has a huge effect on climate change. Activities like slash-and-burn agriculture account for nearly 20 percent of greenhouse gases emissions, according to the UN. Trees, of course, also play a key role in slowing climate change by pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere.
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Historically, deforestation has been an especially vexing probably for environmentalists, raising the concern of climate hawks and conservationists alike. This week’s agreement straightens out some key details of an initiative — called Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD+ — that negotiators hope will provide developing, forest-rich countries with incentives to slow and eventually halt logging of forested land.
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http://www.vox.com/2015/6/13/8774275/UN-REDD-deforestation