Forests and climate change after Paris - An Asia-Pacific perspective

The 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Paris, France, 30 November to 11 December 2015. COP 21 and the resulting Paris Agreement have been seen by many as a turning point in international climate negotiations. Their implications have been particularly significant in the context of forests. In view of this, forest sector stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific require succinct and accurate information on the outcomes of COP 21 and the Paris Agreement. Since 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests have collaborated in organizing an annual expert consultation on forests and climate change, to assess the outcomes of the UNFCCC COPs and their potential implications for Asia and the Pacific. This publication is the outcome of the seventh of these consultations, organized in Clark Free Zone, Philippines, 23-24 February 2016. Twelve experts presenting views from multiple countries as well as key institutions in the Asia and the Pacific region participated in the meeting. This booklet summarizes the discussions held during the consultation, which were in response to a set of 12 questions, designed to inform stakeholders on the implications of the Paris COP 21.