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Despite global pledges to halt deforestation by 2030, only eight out of the top 20 countries with the highest rates of tropical deforestation have specified targets for forests in their national climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This critical finding comes from the UN-REDD report titled "Raising ambition, accelerating action: Towards enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions for forests," released today during the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

The report highlights significant deficiencies in current NDCs concerning forest protection, management, and restoration, essential components for both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Analysis by UNEP climate experts reveals that the NDCs submitted between 2017 and 2023 fall short of meeting global ambitions to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Forests are pivotal in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, potentially contributing one-third of the emissions reductions required to bridge the 2030 mitigation gap.

While 11 NDCs include quantified targets related to afforestation and reforestation, addressing deforestation is paramount due to the prolonged time required to recapture carbon lost through deforestation compared to the gains from afforestation and restoration efforts.

To enhance coherence in national efforts, it is crucial for NDCs to integrate existing national strategies aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, strategies already adopted by 15 of the top 20 countries.

Given forests' critical role in regulating hydrological cycles, mitigating temperature extremes, preventing extreme weather events, and preserving biodiversity and human health, the ambition to end deforestation is indispensable in mitigating risks to both humanity and the planet. Despite a recent decline in Brazil, the report notes a global increase in deforestation rates.

Dechen Tsering, Acting Director of UNEP’s Climate Division, emphasized the need for ambitious, consistent, detailed, targeted, and actionable goals in climate action plans due for submission in 2025. These plans should build upon existing national environmental policies and bolster support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who are pivotal guardians of forests.