A group of CEO's of top companies, environmental groups, and conservation groups endorsed forest preservation and regrowth of previously destroyed forests as a critical part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change concerns. As in a previous post, I think industry should recognize trees as being one of their best friends in developing solutions to climate change issues.
The participants in the agreement were American Electric Power, Conservation International, Duke Energy, Environmental Defense Fund, El Paso Corporation, National Wildlife Federation, Marriott International, Mercy Corps, Natural Resources Defense Council, PG&E Corporation, Sierra Club, Starbucks Coffee Company, The Nature Conservancy, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Walt Disney Company, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Woods Hole Research Center.
The group signed a Avoided Deforestation Partners Unity Agreement that contains Consensus Principles on International Forests for U.S. Climate Legislation. These principles are:
- Include International Forests
- No Substitute for Domestic Action
- Leverage Cap-and-Trade Allowance Funds
- Harness the Power of U.S. Carbon Markets
- Encourage Forest Countries to Adopt National Strategies
- Create Flexible Rules for Small Emitter Countries
- Require Baselines for Major Emitter Countries
- Establish a Timetable for National Baselines
- Impose Quantity Limits
- Support Early Action
- Make International Forest Assets Fully Fungible
- Create Strong Environmental Safeguards
- Protect Forest Dependent Communities
- Help Developing Nations Prepare
The details of these principles can be found in the Unity Agreement.
This is a bold statement of principles with hopefully some clout to convince congressmen and senators to include a strong forest component in any climate change legislation adopted by the United States.
