What is REDD+
In 1992, 197 Parties adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a response to tackle global warming. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted by the
Parties to the UNFCCC, which strengthened the Convention by setting legally binding emission reduction
requirements for 37 industrialized countries. The ultimate objective of both treaties is to stabilise
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with
the climate system. The UNFCCC divides countries into three (3) main groups according to differing
commitments, namely (a)
Annex I Parties, (b) Annex II Parties, and (c) Non-Annex I Parties. Malaysia became a
Non-Annex I Party to the UNFCCC when it ratified the Convention in 1994. Malaysia also ratified the Kyoto
Protocol and the Paris Agreement in 2002 and 2016 respectively.
In response to global deforestation and forest degradation, and during the 13th meeting of the Conference of
Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC in Bali, Indonesia in 2007, Parties agreed under the Bali Action Plan on
a climate
change mitigation approach designed to incentivise developing countries to reduce carbon emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation. This mitigation approach is known as “reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation” or REDD. A year later, at the 14th meeting of the COP in Pozna, Poland,
the concept of REDD was expanded to “REDD Plus” or “REDD+” to include “the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.” The implementation of REDD Plus activities is
voluntary and depends on the national circumstances, capacities and capabilities of each developing country
and the level of support received.
In essence, REDD Plus is an international framework to guide activities of developing countries on how to
report on forest resources and forest management strategies, as well as their results in terms of reducing
emissions and enhancing removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs). It helps to reduce emissions from deforestation
and from forest degradation, conserve forest carbon stocks, enhance forest carbon stocks, and ensure
sustainable management of forest. The REDD Plus framework, commonly known as Warsaw Framework,
provides the
methodological and financing guidance for the implementation of REDD Plus activities based on earlier
decisions adopted by the COP. REDD Plus is also an important mechanism reiterated and recognised in the
Paris
Agreement
, particularly its Article 5.
Why is REDD+ important?
Deforestation and forest degradation have long been recognized as significant sources of carbon emissions, as trees store carbon and when they are destroyed this carbon is released into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouse gases that cause climate change. As up to 11 per cent of carbon emissions are caused by deforestation and forest degradation, it is important that the reduction of these emissions is part of the global plan to fight climate change. REDD+ is the identified mechanism to do so. In addition to their carbon storage role, forests are valuable in many other ways. This includes water regulation, soil protection, non-timber forest products including food and fibre, climate regulation and biodiversity. In fact, it is estimated that 1.6 billion people depend on forests. As such, by conserving forests, REDD Plus offers a broad range of social, environmental and economic benefits to developing countries and forest communities.
Phases in REDD Plus
The UNFCCC defines the three phases of REDD Plus as:
-
1
Phase 1: Readiness
Countries design national strategies and action plans with relevant stakeholders, build the capacity to implement REDD Plus, work on REDD Plus related policies and measures, and design demonstration activities. In 2013, Malaysia has completed its REDD Plus Readiness studies, its findings are captured in the REDD Plus Readiness in Malaysia: Summary of Recommendations.
-
2
Phase 2: Implementation
National strategies, policies and action plans proposed in Phase I are demonstrated and tested. This may include results-based demonstration activities and may require additional capacity building, technology development and transfer.
-
3
Phase 3: Results-Based Actions
Results-based actions are implemented at the national level and results are fully measured, reported and verified. Countries can access results-based payments when they have completed the reporting, assessment and analysis processes under the UNFCCC.
REDD Plus Malaysia
Following the developments above, the Conference of the Parties (COP) has adopted a number of decisions on REDD Plus. In particular, countries a reencouraged to meet the requirements of the Warsaw Framework for REDD Plus, a series of seven decisions adopted by the 19thConference of the Parties (COP19) that build on previous UNFCCC-COP decisions. The core elements stemming from the Decision 1/CP 16 requested all developing countries, including Malaysia, to undertake the following in order to implement the REDD Plus mechanism:
- A national strategy or action plan
- A national forest reference emission level (NFRL) and/or forest reference level (FRL)
- A robust and transparent national forest monitoring system (NFMS) for the monitoring and reporting on REDD Plus activities
- A system for providing information on how the social and environmental safeguards (included in an appendix to the decision) are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of REDD Plus
It further requests developing countries, when developing and implementing their national REDD Plus strategies or action plans, to address, among other issues, the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, land tenure issues, forest governance issues, gender considerations and the social and environmental safeguards, ensuring the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, inter alia indigenous peoples and local communities. In response to these, Malaysia has so far achieved the following:
- A National REDD Plus Strategy (2017)
- A National Forest Reference Level (NFRL)
- A National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS)
- Malaysia’s Safeguards Information System (MY-SIS)
See full list of Malaysia’s submission to UNFCCC related to REDD Plus here Download Handbook on “Implementing REDD Plus in Malaysia”