Two of 3 parts
Here is a closer look at how forests can counter the climate crisis.
How does deforestation feed the climate crisis?
Trees are some of the planet’s most important warehouses of carbon, absorbing the element from the air via photosynthesis, and storing it in their leaves, roots and trunks.
But when trees decay or are burned, they release stored carbon into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas that traps heat near the Earth’s surface, raising temperatures and propelling climate change.
At the same time, the loss of trees means forests are no longer able to absorb as much carbon from the air as before, a double hit for the climate.
Why is addressing deforestation and climate change so important right now?
Human activities, like the burning of fossil fuels, are pushing greenhouse gas emissions to record levels, sparking climatic upheaval, including flooding, droughts and wildfires. These catastrophes affect millions of people and cause trillions of dollars in economic losses each year.
And they are poised to get worse. UNEP data shows that based on current national commitments, the planet could warm from 2.5°C to 2.9°C this century, well above the goals of the Paris Agreement and enough to trigger widespread climate chaos.
Cutting emissions quickly by saving and restoring forests is considered vital.
How much of a difference can safeguarding forests make in the battle against climate change?
A big one. To keep global warming below 1.5°C, a key goal of the Paris Agreement, the world must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 22 gigatons annually by 2030. Halting deforestation could reduce emissions by 4 gigatons a year, according to the UN-REDD Program, a partnership between UNEP, the UN Development Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Protecting and restoring forests is one of many nature-based solutions that countries can use to limit greenhouse gas emissions. A UNEP report found these strategies could help cut emissions anywhere from 10 gigatons to 18 gigatons a year by 2050.
(To be continued)
UNEP News
