• World Leaders from 26 countries and the EU will come together today to launch the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) at the inaugural Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit
• The Partnership will help to deliver the commitment made at COP26 by over 140 world leaders to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
• The new Partnership will unite action by government, business and community leaders, and shine a spotlight on global progress at COP27 and every year up to 2030.
• Leaders including President Macron of France, President Petro of Colombia and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana welcomed the creation of the partnership as a crucial delivery mechanism to deliver global forest and land use commitments
• The new Partnership will be co-chaired by the USA and Ghana, who will preside over the first Ministerial meeting of FCLP members on 12 November.

Today at the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit at COP27, 26 countries and the EU are announcing a commitment to join the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership to scale up action to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.

These actions are fundamental to adapting to climate change and have the potential to deliver up to 30% of the emissions reductions needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, while securing global biodiversity, economic prosperity and food supplies.

The launch of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) follows from the package of announcements at COP26 in Glasgow last year, where over 140 world leaders, representing over 90% of the world’s forests, committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.

The Partnership offers a way to enhance cooperation on delivery of these commitments, to scale ambition and to find innovative solutions to ongoing problems. By joining, countries are committing to lead by example in the implementation of their national goals and striving to be more ambitious over time. They are also committing to enhance collective efforts to maximise the contribution of forests and sustainable land use to global and national climate and biodiversity goals, and to meet annually to take stock of progress.

Every member is committing to play a leadership role to drive forward at least one of the FCLP’s action areas, which are:

• International collaboration on the sustainable land use economy;
• Mobilising public and donor finance to support implementation;
• Shifting the private finance system;
• Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ initiatives;
• Strengthening and scaling carbon markets for forests; and
• Partnerships and incentives for preserving high-integrity forests.

The launch brings together World Leaders from FCLP member countries including the leaders of the United States of America and Ghana, who will be the first co-chairs. Member countries represent the northern forests of Canada, the tropical and subtropical rainforests of the Amazon, Australasia, Africa and Asia, and the financial and economic centres of the world. Together, they will focus their combined weight on transformational areas of action.

Members will work closely with the private sector, civil society, international and multilateral organisations and community leaders to implement and rapidly scale up solutions on deforestation, forest degradation, reforestation and sustainable forest and land use management, that reflect each members’ national context and priorities as well as the urgency of the global climate and biodiversity crises.

At the inaugural meeting at COP27, member countries will take stock of progress since COP26 and discuss key insights, successes, challenges and priorities for future collaboration. The meeting will follow the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit at which members spoke alongside other countries and business and community leaders to highlight the most ambitious commitments and the strongest examples of progress since COP26.

List of members of the Forest and Climate Leader’s Partnership

1. Commonwealth of Australia
2. Canada
3. Republic of Colombia
4. Congo
5. Republic of Costa Rica
6. Republic of Ecuador
7. European Union
8. Republic of Finland
9. Republic of Fiji
10. Republic of France
11. Gabon
12. Federal Republic of Germany
13. Republic of Ghana
14. Republic of Guyana
15. Republic of Indonesia (is especially considering joining the FCLP)
16. Japan
17. Republic of Kenya
18. Republic of Korea
19. Kingdom of Netherlands
20. Federal Republic of Nigeria
21. Kingdom of Norway
22. Islamic Republic of Pakistan
23. Republic of Singapore
24. Kingdom of Sweden
25. United Republic of Tanzania
26. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
27. United States of America
28. Vietnam

Quotes

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak:

“For too long the world’s forests have been undervalued and underestimated. They are one of the great natural wonders of our world, and with the loss of our forests accounting for more than 10% of global emissions, protecting them is one of the best ways of getting us back on track to 1.5 degrees.

“That’s why the UK put nature at the heart of COP26, and countries home to 90 per cent of the world’s forests committed not just to halting but reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

“Let’s build on what we have achieved and together secure this incredible legacy for our children and the many generations to come.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana:

“Forest loss can be averted. There is, however, the need for a dedicated space, globally, to provide the needed support and accountability checks to countries that are committed to delivering the Glasgow Leaders Declaration. The Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership is a first and key step towards this goal, and Ghana supports and endorses fully the FCLP.”

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana:

“Ambition to protect the world’s forests has never been in short supply in forest communities and countries. What has been missing is the means to realise that ambition. The Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership can rapidly change this situation – by bringing Heads of Government together to focus on practical solutions. Guyana will play its part in highlighting leadership from forest communities and countries. We will put forward solutions that we know can work because of our own experience. The world’s people do not need more talk, they need action that converts ambition into results, and I hope the FCLP will be the platform to achieve this.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada:

“There is no path to fighting climate change and building a healthy future that does not involve forests. At home, Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous communities, while taking historic steps like our commitment to plant 2 billion trees over the coming decade. To bring this work to the world stage, we are pleased to be joining the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership. Together, we can maximize the role of forests in the fight against climate change and in our shared work to build a bright future.”

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon:

“Gabon is proud to be part of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership. As a climate pioneer, net absorbing over 100 million tons of CO2 every year into our forests, Gabon has already achieved and indeed exceeded the Paris objective of carbon neutrality. We have achieved this through development solutions that build a forest positive economy and provide employment, thereby giving our forests true value and ensuring that they remain standing. For these climate services to be maintained, we need to dramatically scale up action and investment, to deliver for people, for our climate and for our forests. The Partnership provides us with a forum to address these major challenges and enact real change before it is too late.”

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store of Norway:

“We will not reach the goals of the Paris Agreement without halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Achieving this will require unprecedented leadership and collaboration from governments, business, civil society and indigenous peoples. Norway joins the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership committed to work together with tropical forest countries and other like minded countries in pursuit of this goal.”

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on behalf of the European Union:

“Only with healthy forests we can deliver on our shared climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. And only with intact lively forests we can address biodiversity. We know that, yet the figures on global deforestation remain alarming. We need to act, and we need to act with urgency. This is not only important for the protection of nature, but also for the preservation of the economic livelihood of millions of people, which depends on the existence of sustainable and healthy forests. The EU is doing its share – and we are keen to work with partners worldwide to make sure we halt deforestation by 2030. I am confident the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership which the EU joins today will help us get there.”

Chancellor Scholz of Germany:

“Our joint global commitment to halt deforestation and restore forests needs to be translated into concrete and scaled action on the ground that will benefit people, biodiversity and the climate. Germany has joined the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership today since we are convinced that it provides a strong forum for international collaboration to progress on this front. To underpin our commitment, Germany will support the establishment of the Partnership’s secretariat and intends to double its initial contribution to the Global Forest Finance Pledge to a total of 2 billion euros.”

President Macron of France:

“Time has come to take stock of our actions to reverse forest loss, land degradation and, at the same time, to achieve our commitment to meet the Paris Agreement goals, thus the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership is essential. Time has also come to accelerate and reinforce our actions. France is fully committed to scale up its engagements for forests and call all stakeholders, through existing initiatives like the Great Green Wall and coming opportunities to build a 2023 forest and land-use positive agenda.”

John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate:

“The United States is pleased to help launch the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership with partners around the globe to help accelerate efforts to halt deforestation and land degradation, and restore ecosystems, in this critical decade for the climate. Success in this area is one of the most important tools we have to put the world on a path to averting the worst impacts of climate change, conserving biodiversity, and creating sustainable economic opportunities.”

Gustavo Manrique Miranda, Minister of the Environment and Water, Ecuador:

“This alliance is an opportunity to implement solutions that reduce deforestation, that increase forest restoration and strengthen the livelihoods of people living in forest areas. Ecuador understands that we must act strategically in our forests at the local and global levels.”

Sung-hyun Nam, Minister for Korea Forest Service, Republic of Korea:

“I believe that the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership will become a significant global partnership that calls on countries to help to address forest and land use issues as well as climate change with robust political support. Therefore, we, at the ROK, would like to take the opportunity to join the FCLP. Also, as a founding member, Korea will actively participate in activities of the partnership, and join forces with the global community to support forest restoration of developing countries using Korea’s know-hows and experience.”

Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore:

“Singapore is delighted to be part of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, to work with like-minded partners on innovative and environmentally robust solutions that would unlock the potential of the forestry sector for climate action, while reducing the loss of forests worldwide. The Partnership will help scale up and support the development of high integrity markets for forestry carbon credits, in advancing global climate ambition.”

Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica:

“We see the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership as the crucial delivery mechanism for global forest and land use commitments. After successfully implementing REDD+, decoupling GDP from deforestation, Costa Rica expects to maintain zero net deforestation, the high-value forests conservation, and consolidate carbon neutrality in the rural landscape scaling up sustainable land-use enterprises, forest-positive economies, and supply chains.”

Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, Minister of Environment, Federal Republic of Nigeria:

“The forest is a powerful multi-faceted resource for fighting negative impacts of climate change and for changing lives. It is the most available and cost-effective tool for everyone to use, regardless of economic or social status, urban or rural. The alarming deforestation and land degradation rates in Nigeria makes it pertinent to join efforts to restore our forests and land to enable keeping global temperature goals, sustainable development for our people alongside the regeneration and survival of our ecosystems. Nigeria is happy to join the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership which we expect will provide effective leadership and means of implementation for forest and climate. Let the FCLP be a Partnership for Action.”

Senator the Hon Murray Watt MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia:

“Forests and forest products are vital to addressing our global climate challenges, and require an ongoing focus at all levels to unlock their potential. Australia is proud to join with other high-ambition countries and help drive global momentum to address climate change through the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership. Our unique and varied forests, deep Indigenous knowledge and practices, and experience managing forests for multiple outcomes, positions us strongly to contribute. We look forward to working with others to find innovative ways to build on existing global forest initiatives and maximise the role of forests as climate solutions.”

Mr. Hiroshi ORITA, Director-General, Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan:

“Collaboration is the key to moving forward the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. Through the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, Japan will play its part in realizing our shared goals in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including international organizations and the private sector, building on our experiences and expertise in restoring once degraded land into rich forests, and promoting sustainable forest management and wood use.”

Thank you President, and thank you to the High Representative for the very helpful briefing.

President, Syria has had nine years to come into compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. But since its accession, it has repeatedly and categorically failed to provide the OPCW with a complete account of its chemical weapons programme. And as we know, the Syrian regime has been independently found responsible for at least 8 chemical weapons attacks by UN and OPCW independent investigations – attacks on its own people.

Syria has failed to assure the OPCW, or this Council, that it is today abiding by its commitments under resolution 2118 and as a state party to the Chemical Weapons Convention

There is understandable frustration in the Council about the lack of progress, but we must see this for what it is. The problem here is not how many meetings this Council has. The problem is the behaviour of the Syrian regime in breach of core international laws, including resolutions of this Council. And the problem is systematic disinformation from Syria and Russia in an effort to obscure this behaviour and to avoid accountability. Including deeply irresponsible attempts to attack the OPCW.

We heard from the High Representative today the risks of the erosion of the taboo against using chemical weapons. The OPCW is responsible for preventing the spread of chemical weapons. It is an expert and highly professional organisation, and it is in all of our interests to prevent it from being degraded by disinformation.

President, until Syria gives proper assurances to the international community, we must assume that Syria continues to hold chemical weapons. And given its track record, we must assume that the regime remains willing to use them.

So, it is up to members of this Council to maintain the pressure to resolve this ongoing threat to international peace and security.

Thank you.

• 26 countries and the European Union – which together account for over 33% of the world’s forests and nearly 60% of the world’s GDP – will launch the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP).
• This high ambition partnership of countries will build on the Glasgow Leaders Declaration for Forests and Land Use made by 140+ countries to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
• These 26 countries, including some of the most highly forested countries, have volunteered to lead high ambition efforts to drive delivery and accountability  through annual high-level events; during the FCLP’s first public meeting at COP27, an alliance of government leaders, companies, financial actors and Indigenous peoples’ will report on progress.
• It will be announced that public donors have already spent $2.67 billion of the $12 billion committed last year to protect and restore forests. At COP27 a further $4.5 billion from public and private donors will be committed.
• The UK Prime Minister and leaders of Colombia, Congo, Ghana, France and Germany will address the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit.

Today at COP27 world leaders will launch the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), committing to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 in the fight against climate change and as promised in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

The FCLP, launched at the inaugural Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit, is a voluntary partnership of 26 countries committed to delivery, accountability and innovation following the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, which was endorsed by more than 140 world leaders at COP26 last year to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation this decade. If achieved, this would deliver 10% of the climate mitigation action needed by 2030 to deliver on the Paris Agreement.

Chaired by the United States and Ghana, FCLP members represent a range of regions, major forest areas, and centres of commerce and finance. 60% of global GDP and over  33% the world’s forests are covered in this partnership.

All members of the FCLP are united by a common goal; each member must be committed to leading on at least one of the FCLP’s action areas. Through the FCLP, countries will lead the initiatives which will scale and drive delivery. The goal is to identify strategic areas where the FCLP can help implement or scale up both new and existing solutions, working closely with the private sector, civil society and community leaders.

As part of this, the United Kingdom has committed £1.5 billion finance for forests over 2021-25, as part of a wider £3bn ring fence for nature. As part of this, the UK is announcing a further £65m for the nature pillar of the Climate Investment Fund, which will place Indigenous people and local communities, who shoulder the burden of climate change, at the heart of forest protection across rainforests, cloud forests and island forests. The UK is also today announcing that we are working on a new programme of £90 million towards the protection of the Congo Basin as part of our promise to support this region. The Congo Basin is the world’s most efficient carbon sink, supports the livelihoods of over 80 million people, and is home to 10,000 species of tropical plants – as well as endangered species like forest elephants, chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said:

For too long the world’s forests have been undervalued and underestimated. They are one of the great natural wonders of our world, and with the loss of our forests accounting for more than 10% of global emissions, protecting them is one of the best ways of getting us back on track to 1.5 degrees.

That’s why the UK put nature at the heart of COP26, and countries home to 90 per cent of the world’s forests committed not just to halting but reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

Let’s build on what we have achieved and together secure this incredible legacy for our children and the many generations to come.

H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, said:

Forest loss can be averted. There is, however, the need for a dedicated space, globally, to provide the needed support and accountability checks to countries that are committed to delivering the Glasgow Leaders Declaration. The FCLP is a first and key step towards this goal, and Ghana supports and endorses, fully, the FCLP.

Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, said:

Our joint global commitment to halt deforestation and restore forests needs to be translated into concrete and scaled action on the ground that will benefit people, biodiversity and the climate. Germany has joined the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership today since we are convinced that it provides a strong forum for international collaboration to progress on this front. To underpin our commitment, Germany will support the establishment of the partnership’s secretariat and is doubling its initial contribution to the Global Forest Finance Pledge to a total of 2 billion EUR.

At the inaugural Forest and Climate Leaders’ Summit, an alliance of government leaders, companies, financial actors and Indigenous peoples’ will report on progress. This includes:

• Contributing countries demonstrating unparalleled levels of accountability and transparency. 12 countries will report a combined spend of $2.67 billion to support activities in developing countries, including restoring degraded land, tackling wildfires and supporting the rights of indigenous communities.

• At least $4.5bn of newly-mobilised public and private sector funding will be announced.
• Leading financial institutions from Japan to Norway to Brazil, all signatories to the Financial Sector Commitment on Eliminating Commodity-driven Deforestation have been moving forward with implementation through the Finance Sector Deforestation Action (FSDA) initiative. FSDA members have published shared investor expectations for companies, are stepping up engagement activity and are working with policymakers and data providers. New members joining in 2022 include SouthBridge Group, the first African financial institution to join the initiative, Banco Estado de Chile, London CIV and GAM Investments.
• In their call to action, the GFANZ co-chairs and vice chair, including Mark Carney, are calling on all financial institutions to embed deforestation into their net zero transition plans.

The FCLP will hold annual meetings to encourage accountability, including leader-level events at climate COPs. Starting in 2023, the FCLP will also publish an annual Global Progress Report that includes independent assessments of global progress toward the 2030 goal, as well as summarising progress made by the FCLP itself, including in its action areas and initiatives.

At the Summit, those who spoke alongside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak included: President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo, President Petro of Colombia, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Communities are being urged to prepare for flooding this winter with the Environment Agency warning of “ignoring the danger at your own peril”.

Amid increased extreme weather events brought on by the climate emergency, the Environment Agency is launching an awareness campaign – Flood Action Week – to encourage those who live in areas at risk of flooding to act now to protect their home, possessions and family.

This year alone, the UK experienced its highest ever recorded temperatures, as the Met Office confirmed that England had its joint hottest summer on record with much of the country still struggling with drought.

Looking ahead to this winter, although the Met Office says the chance of wet and windy weather increases as we go through the season, unexpected flooding could occur at any time and communities are being warned not to be complacent following this summer’s dry weather.

Since 1998 we have seen six of the ten wettest years on record and this year for the first time ever saw three named storms in one week.

One of the key messages coming from COP27, which gets underway in Egypt this week, is that we must plan and prepare for increasingly extreme events.

As we have seen across the globe, the effects of climate change are becoming clearer, with wildfires raging across Europe; China experiencing its worst heatwave in decades; and devastating floods in Pakistan ripping through communities killing more than 1500 people and displacing millions.

This Flood Action Week (7 November – 13 November) the Environment Agency is urging people to take three simple steps:

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flooding at the Environment Agency, said:

Climate change is happening now. We’re seeing more extreme weather – in this year alone with three named storms in a week, record-breaking temperatures and drought declared across large parts of the country.

“That is why it is vital that people take the necessary preparations as early as possible to prepare for the worst. Our recent investment programme has better protected 314,000 homes from flooding and we’re investing millions into keeping communities safe, but we can’t stop all flooding.

The message is clear – households risk ignoring the danger of flooding at their own peril. Anyone can go online to check if they are at risk, sign up for Environment Agency warnings, and, most importantly, know what you need to do if flooding hits.

Floods Minister Rebecca Pow said:

I know how devastating flooding can be – the loss of your home, the financial stress, and the destruction of irreplaceable, sentimental belongings all place unbelievable strain on those affected.

Simple steps such as checking your flood risk online and signing up for flood warnings can make all the difference in terms of preparing yourself for what may come.

We are committed to pressing ahead with our record £5.2 billion investment in flood and coastal defences between 2021 and 2027 to ensure more communities are even better prepared for future flooding events.

This year’s Flood Action Week comes as the Environment Agency has now expanded its flood warning service to reach almost 50,000 new properties at risk of flooding and hopes to exceed its target to provide new warning capability for 62,000 properties at risk of flooding by this winter. It brings the number of properties registered with the service to 1.6 million.

With over 250 mobile pumps and 5,000 trained staff across the country, the Environment Agency is ready to take action wherever it is needed this winter. The construction and repair of flood defences has also continued throughout the year as part of the record £5.2 billion government investment in flood and coastal defences.

These preparations have already helped to protect communities from flooding. During the storms earlier this year, despite some 400 properties sadly flooding, around 35,000 were protected by Environment Agency schemes.

Will Lang from the Met Office said:

Winters in the UK usually include a wide variety of weather, and this winter looks to be no exception.

Although we expect to see high pressure dominating our weather through much of the early winter, which increases the potential for cold spells, we could still see wet and windy weather at times.

The risk of unsettled weather increases as we head into 2023 with wet, windy, and mild spells a real possibility.

At least one in six people in England are at risk from flooding from rivers and the sea, with many more at risk from surface water flooding.

However nearly two in three households at risk of flooding don’t believe it will happen to them, according to analysis produced by the Environment Agency earlier this year.

And despite the research showing that almost two thirds of people (60%) have taken at least one action to prepare for flooding, as many as 1.5 million households, who are at risk, are yet to prepare.

Those at risk are encouraged to follow the advice to ‘Prepare. Act. Survive’, specifically:

• If there is an initial flood alert – prepare by packing medicines and insurance and other important documents and visit the flood warning information service
• If there is a subsequent confirmed flood warning – act by moving family, pets and belongings to safety. Turn off gas, water and electricity
• If there is a severe flood warning – survive immediate danger by following the advice of emergency services or calling 999 if needed

With just 30cm of flowing water being enough to float a car, drivers are also being warned not to attempt to drive through flood water and take extra precautions in wet weather.

Tony Rich, from The AA said:

It’s vital for drivers to be aware of the risks of driving in floodwater and during heavy rain. Roads can quickly become flooded, making your intended route impassable, so allow plenty of time for journeys. It’s also important to leave more space than normal between you and the car in front to allow for greater stopping distances.

Drivers should take extra care where roads dip, especially under bridges as these are most likely to flood first. Flood water can be deceptively deep and can easily cause damage to your vehicle’s bodywork or worse – the engine, often resulting in hefty repair bills.

Flood water can also mask other hazards in the road, such as displaced drain covers and potholes, so if in doubt turn around and find another route. Doing this may add time to your journey, but as it only takes 30cm of flowing water to float a car – it’s better to be safe than sorry.