Citola Blog
Logging On? Way To Go...
So what’s all the fuss about? According to a recent report from a well respected research group and think tank, Chatham House, illegal logging of rain forests has fallen sharply.
All those good intentions from politicians in the developed world have indeed translated into something concrete, according to the report. Some 17 million hectares have been saved, thanks to political initiatives, in the last decade. The international focus on Brazil has been particularly productive, with illegal logging in decline by somewhere between 50 and 75 per cent over the past ten years.
And Europe is coordinating its efforts to cut emissions, with government ministers in France, Germany and the UK simultaneously publishing articles arguing that the target quota for emissions should be increased to 30 per cent. According to Chris Huhne, UK climate change minister: "The current 20 per cent target is not sufficient to encourage companies to make the necessary investment in green technologies and green jobs. The 'wait and see' policy of sticking to 20 per cent risks putting Europe in the global slow lane of maximizing low carbon economic opportunities."
And a United Nations scheme for emissions reduction through avoided deforestation or degradation (REDD) has seen major progress in Indonesia (home to the world's third biggest forest). Indonesia received $1 billion from Norway in May in exchange for the Indonesian government’s revocation of logging licences to palm oil and timber firms.
But, of course, there’s a but. The REDD fund is supposed to hit $20 billon – yet the actual contributions only amount to $4 billion so far.
Emission reduction amounts to doing less damage. What we need to promote is forestry, REDD schemes, and the promotion of the market in carbon offsets. The news above isn’t good news – it’s just not so bad news. We all have a long way to go. That’s what the fuss is about.
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