Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
Meetings of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Global Witness is attending the UNFCCC negotiating meetings because we believe climate change is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. In responding to this threat the international community faces both massive challenges and significant opportunities. Nowhere are these challenges and opportunities more evident than in efforts to protect forests. The battle against climate change cannot be won unless global deforestation is halted. Our key focus is the negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).
Bonn, 31 May - 11 June 2010
Bonn offers a chance to get things started again after the disappointment of Copenhagen. Negotiators should focus on resolving outstanding issues on REDD - including the crucial issues of monitoring and implemention of safeguards. This will be critical to the success of the next major climate summit in Cancun, Mexico in November 2010.
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD)
- REDD was not extensively discussed during the first week of negotiations. The focus was on the overall climate change agreement, with some consideration given to how REDD fits into the broader financial and monitoring arrangements.
- Discussions on REDD resumed in the second week of negotiations, with Parties indicating a strong desire to finalise an agreement on REDD at the next Conference of the Parties to be held in Cancun, Mexico in December. There appears to be an emerging consensus on the need for capacity building, and several Parties highlighted the need to improve monitoring and governance - issues long advocated for by Global Witness.
- Closing press release
- Opening press release on the importance of Bonn and the issues to be resolved on forests and REDD
- GW attends UN-REDD workshop at Chatham House to establish frameworks for monitoring safeguards in forest protection schemes.
Release of new Global Witness report
- During the first week of negotiations, Global Witness released a new report on the importance of independent monitoring of governance and corruption for reducing deforestation in developing countries.
Land Use Land Use Change and Forests (LULUCF)
- The Kyoto Protocol allows developed countries to use carbon sequestration in their forest sector to offset against industrial emissions. A proposal to reform the accounting rules has been put forward by developed countries. It is full of loopholes and would allow developed countries to increase logging in their forests without accounting for it.
- During the first week of the Bonn meeting, Global Witness, as part of the Ecosystem Climate Alliance, lobbied Parties to reject this loophole. Opening press release. Closing press release.
- Press release calling for a new definition of forests to distinguish between plantations and natural forests.
Copenhagen, 7-18 December
The 15th Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded in Copenhagen without a deal being agreed on legally binding emissions reduction targets. The result was a bitter disappointment for campaigners who had been fighting hard for a deal to save the planet, its forests and people.
No firm agreement was reached on REDD in Copenhagen - the negotiations were suspended on Saturday and the draft text was not finalised. On the upside, much of the language that Global Witness and our colleagues in the Ecosystems Climate Alliance had been lobbying for was still to be found in the final version of the draft text. This sets a good basis for more work in 2010.
- Press release - REDD deal in jeopardy as talks stall
- Blog by Global Witness Director Patrick Alley, giving his impressions of the talks and the chances of a decent deal
- Closing blog from Patrick Alley
- Press release warning that REDD talks are on a knife edge - and calling on world leaders to act
- Guardian Online article on weakening of REDD draft by the removal of key clauses quotes Global Witness
- Le Monde article quotes GW on the dangers of a REDD mechanism without monitoring provisions
- ECA reaction to leaked REDD text with weakened safeguards and deleted targets
- Global Witness press conference on REDD negotiations so far, with Bianca Jagger
- Bloomberg article quotes ECA on the need to save forests in order to moderate carbon emissions
- SolveClimate.com on targets to limit deforestation being cut from draft REDD agreement.
- Global Witness holds side event on monitoring and governance in REDD - watch the video
- Global Witness was on the panel of an NGO press briefing on REDD
- ECA open letter reminds Heads of State of UNFCC obligation to work to prevent deforestation
- Press release from Ecosystems Climate Alliance: Forest Management Negotiations Threaten to Undermine Climate Agreement
- SolveClimate.com article on Global Witness' warnings over lack of monitoring provisions in REDD plans
- Watch the Ecosystems Climate Alliance press briefing on REDD and LULUCF loopholes
- John Vidal article on Guardian Online quotes Global Witness on the need for effective anti-corruption checks in proposed deal
- Opening press release from Global Witness and ECA warning of inadequate language in the REDD negotiating text
- Global Witness released two reports on REDD: Building Confidence in REDD warns of critical flaws in the current proposal, while A Decade of Experience looks at the lessons learned from Global Witness' experiences in Independent Forest Monitoring
- You can also follow us on twitter
Barcelona, 2 - 6 November, 2009
- Global Witness had a side event on REDD and Governance, download the presentations here:
- Time article: Is There any Hope for Agreement at Copenhagen?
- Irish Times article: Prospects for deal to address deforestation unclear, says alliance
- Reuters article: Forestry talks end in toothless pact in Barcelona
- Final Barcelona press release from Ecosystems Climate Alliance
- AlertNet: Forest protection efforts face crime, corruption perils
- Reuters article: Forest protection hinges on 10-word phrase
- Press release: Forest protection still missing in REDD negotiations
- Watch the Wetlands International and Rainforest Action Network's press briefings
- Press release from Ecosystems Climate Alliance
Bangkok, 28 September - 9 October, 2009
- Guardian update on EU position: British delegate's pro-logging stance prompts EU apology
- The EU blocks protection of natural forests
- Watch the Ecosystems Climate Alliance and Greenpeace press briefings
- Guardian article: UN's forest protection scheme at risk from organised crime, experts warn
- Ecosystems Climate Alliance press briefing
- Read about how the European Union is stalling on REDD and the latest on the negotiations
- We released a report, which shows how the term 'sustainable forest management' is threatening to derail the negotiations
- Read the press release and a blog on this report
- Margaret Swink's blog on the Bangkok negotiations
- Press release from Ecosystems Climate Alliance
- Read more about Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation here
Bonn, 1 - 12 June, 2009
- Press release from Ecosystems Climate Alliance
- We released a report, which shows how vested interests are threatening to derail the negotiations
- Read a blog on this report here
- We also released a joint statement with other organisations, which was covered by Biofuel Watch
- Margaret Swink wrote a good blog on the forest agenda at Bonn and how some groups are trying to hijack it
- We had a very successful side event, which you can watch here
- The Earth Negotiations Bulletin wrote a good report on our event
- We took part in a press conferenceas part of Youth Forest Day
Latest Publications
September 2010
Global Witness stands by findings on Sudanese oil data
Global Witness today refuted claims that it had apologized for the findings of its September 2009 report, Fuelling Mistrust, on the lack of transparency in Sudan's oil sector. The organisation said that although very important commitments on improving transparency were made recently by the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the full disclosure of oil revenue data and the results of an independent audit remain necessary to prove the concerns were unfounded.
August 2010
Global Witness welcomes Norwegian government disinvestment from predatory loggers Samling
Global Witness welcomes the Norwegian Government Pension Fund's decision to disinvest from the notorious Malaysian timber giant Samling. Global Witness has previously exposed illegal logging by Samling in Cambodia as well as evidence of legal breaches by two Samling-associated companies in Liberia.
Global Witness welcomes new commitment to transparency in Sudan
Global Witness has participated in a landmark seminar on oil revenue transparency in Khartoum, organised by the Sudanese government and attended by foreign oil companies. We welcome the commitment to increase transparency, including an audit of the oil sector and publication of key production and revenue figures.
Global Witness applauds RBS penalty over terrorist financing
Global Witness welcomes the decisive action taken by the UK financial regulator, the FSA, which has fined the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) £5.6 million for failing to check whether its customers were on the UK terrorist sanctions list.
Campbell testimony shines light on blood diamonds and the importance of international justice
Global Witness is attending the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague as supermodel Naomi Campbell is called to testify. The event offers a useful reminder of the role of natural resources in funding conflict, and of the importance of pursuing justice for the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
