RECOFTC@COP21

RECOFTC’s engagement with this year’s historic United Nations climate negotiations in Paris – the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP), or COP21, is centered on the promotion of equitable mitigation and adaptation strategies, as they relate to the rights and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities in the Asia-Pacific region. These communities, which have contributed little to global carbon emissions, stand to bear the brunt of climate change impacts, and will likely be at the center of future climate change policies. Therefore, RECOFTC’s activities leading up to the COP are amplifying the voices of local people across the region and are articulating their experiences to ensure a more equitable post-2020 climate regime.

RECOFTC's activities at COP21, Paris

  • Global landscapes forum, Youth Session: Dragon’s Den, Sunday, December 6th, 14:30 – 16:00:  Youth leaders pitch their solutions for sustainable landscapes to a group of esteemed panellists for live feedback. Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung, Executive Director,  RECOFTC, will be a panellist. For the session agenda, see: http://www.landscapes.org/glf-2015/youth-in-landscapes-initiative/enter-...
  • Global landscapes forum, Panel 3, Tackling Complexity in Forest and Landscape Restoration – a Best Practices Sharing Session, Sunday, December 6th,  17:35-18:20: Immense benefits for climate change objectives can be derived from forest and landscape restoration. However, for putting landscape-based restoration into practice, a better understanding of the challenges, opportunities and impacts on human livelihoods involved is needed. This panel discussion aims at enhancing the understanding – among professionals and decision-makers - of the complex mix of aspects and factors to be taken into account for a successful implementation of forest and landscape restoration and management. Panelists will share best practices on landscape governance and restoration activities on the ground, as well as land-use trade-offs, benefit-sharing mechanisms (e.g. payments for environmental services or REDD+), equity, mitigation and adaptation. The session also intends to foster partnerships for knowledge management and capacity building to support improved multiple benefits from forest landscape restoration in the tropics. Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung, Executive Director,  RECOFTC, will speak on equity priorities and challenges in the context of REDD+ in Mekong countries. The event will be held at the Palais des Congres de Paris, https://www.google.com/maps/@48.8795242,2.2773744,14.08z

  • Low Emission Land Use Development, Sunday, December 6th, 19:00–21:00: Winrock and the LEDS Global Partnership AFOLU Working Group will host an evening of networking and discussion on low emission development for land use. Speakers and attendees include representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Government of Panama, Government of Vietnam, USAID LEAD Program, RECOFTC, USAID LEAF Project, and Winrock International. Venue: Jazz Club Etoile, 81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr, 75848, Cedex 17 (directly across the road from the Global Landscape Forum in Le Méridien Etoile). To attend, please RSVP at iprest@winrock.org. For more information: https://www.winrock.org/news/winrock-plans-active-participation-paris-cl...
  • Joint High Level Segment (HLS) of the COP and CMP (Statements by observers), Tuesday, December 8th, 15:00-18:00: Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung, Executive Director,  RECOFTC, will present on why local people must be included in climate change decision-making and the importance of building capacities so that local voices can help ensure policies are put into action. For the COP21 overview schedule, see: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/overview... . See the webcast: bit.ly/1OjZ9QK

RECOFTC's activities in the lead up to COP21, Asia region 

 
  • National Dialogues on Forests, Climate, and Equity: Ahead of COP21 Prior to this year’s COP, RECOFTC brought together a range of climate change and forestry policy makers and practitioners for national level dialogues in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam. Through these workshops RECOFTC was able to raise awareness on the United Nations negotiation process, present the key equity dimensions of newly finalized international forest-related climate change mechanisms, and facilitate the development of national level strategies for addressing equity in the forest and climate change context. For more information on these events, see the press release:  Climate change negotiators, decision-makers in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam to meet for pre-COP 21 national dialogues
  • Success of COP21 Paris Agreement depends on equity for local communities The findings of a new RECOFTC report 'Equity in forests and REDD+: An analysis of equity challenges as viewed by forestry decision-makers and practitioners in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam' finds that the viability and success of any agreement emerging from Paris requires that equity extending to local communities form an essential component of process and outcomes in tackling climate change. Read the blog.

  • 'Southeast Asian forests are being seen as a key strategy to halt climate change' blog:  National plans to reduce carbon emissions, submitted in the lead up to COP21 taking place in Paris this December, must not leave forest-dependent people worse off. Read the blog.

  • 'Land Sector Left out of 2020 Targets' op-ed: In the race to finalize national climate change mitigation plans, the Asia-Pacific region must not overlook the land use sector, which contributes nearly 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Read the Bangkok Post op-ed. 

 

RECOFTC’s COP21 related publications