Germany and Norway pledge $1.5 billion to fight deforestation on eve of conference

An illegally burnt deforested area is seen next to a still virgin forest

Two years ago, in the month of May, two European countries, namely Germany and Norway pledged to an amount of 1.5 billion to fight deforestation on the eve of a conference in Oslo, Norway. Norway’s prime minister explained in the reported article that he wanted to create an organization or an international agency that would be able to monitor and finance forests all over the world. Robert Wielaard stated that the program will be called REDD Plus or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. Reports have been made that the two countries mentioned earlier are among the biggest contributors to global warming because of the release of carbon dioxide in the course of burning forests.

In the conference, Germany has agreed to 500 million, which brought the funding of the REDD program to 4 million so far, according to Wielaard. The world’s four largest carbon emitters include the US, China, Brazil and Indonesia. The prime minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, also citied Norway would be contributing another 1 billion to Indonesia, to help fight deforestation there. In this sense, Stoltenberg hopes that other delegates would follow and push the REDD program forward even if the contribution to Indonesia is not a part of the program. Head of U.S. Conservation Group Mark Tercek stated that there is no “official target” on the expected revenue but Brazilian Environmental Minister Carlos Minc predicted the program to generate about 6 billion.

Deforestation is thought to account to up to 20 percent of the world’s total carbon dioxide emission that leads to global warming. This is equivalent to the emission of all the cars, trucks, ships, and planes in the world combined. So perhaps an effort like this would and should be taken into notice and should be “fought” against. Perhaps, the move made by Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg should only be the beginning. The financing negotiations between Norway and Indonesia in helping fight against deforestation will be made through a pay-per-result system, paying Indonesia a fixed sum per ton of carbon dioxide reduced due to forest preservation. As Stoltenberg stated, this system encourages accountability. A theory I would accede to. This system will allow abridging of misuse of the financial assistance given, utilizing the aid to its fullest.

Together with the United Nations, the European Union, and other organizations all over the world are looking to cut and reduce the exudation of carbon dioxide, fighting deforestation and looking to educate inhabitants that rely on the forests to live off them in a sufficient and sustainable manner. Greenpeace, stated by Wielaard, urged the European Union governments on deeper emission cuts and that should be only the first of many, to reduce at least 40 percent of the emissions in industrialized countries under the global climate agreement. And it should. Officials of the wealthier nations, together with Unions and organizations should moil to a common ambition and intention. Hopes are still high in the preservation of forests and cutting of unwanted emissions linked to global warming but we must all do our share and contribute to move forward.

- Adrian M. Francisco

Reference: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/26/german-pledge-boosts-program-bln-protecting-worlds-forests-eve-conference-2017965742/