Carbon offsetting and REDD
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) has become the dominant international forest policy. Variations of REDD+ include Nature-Based Solutions and corporate pledges to achieve Zero Net Deforestation. In reality, though, deforestation continues, polluting companies use REDD+ offsets to avoid reducing their fossil fuel emissions, and zero-net deforestation pledges allow forests to be cleared in one area as long as an “equivalent” area is restored elsewhere.
While the destruction of forest territories continues, more pledges, agreements and programs are being implemented in the name of ‘addressing deforestation and climate change’.
Forest peoples’ knowledge and practices of the use and management of controlled fire in forests have been identified within climate change policies as the cause of forest fires. Nevertheless, fire is critical for ensuring the food and cultural sovereignty of forest peoples.
Fires in the Amazon are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. But who is really burning the forests?
Climate justice advocates and community and movements’ representatives met in Maputo, Mozambique from 21-23 April 2015 to reflect on the roots, manifestations and impacts of climate change on Africa and on the responses needed in the face of the crises. The conference agreed, among others, to reject false solutions to the climate crisis, like REDD, industrial tree plantations, genetic engineering, agrofuels and geoengineering,
