Former Prime Minister of PNG, Michael Somare with Ambassador Kevin Conrad on the Wewak beach where REDD+ was launched.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) is the only global conservation system to preserve and protect rainforests by making them worth more alive than dead – and is a critical solution for tackling the climate emergency. In 2020, McKinsey published a report stating that the planet could in no way align to a 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway without carbon reductions from tropical rainforests.

The REDD+ mechanism enables rainforest nations to obtain economic value for carbon reductions resulting from actions they take to reduce deforestation and preserve their rainforests. It was developed by our countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests. It is the only emissions reduction program and standard included in the Paris Agreement and approved by over 190 countries.

REDD+ offers incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands. It is the framework through which developed countries, the private sector, and consumers can reward rainforest countries with payments for actions to conserve and restore forest lands. This can take the form of direct payments from multi-lateral banks and inter-governmental organizations, such as Green Climate Fund, or can be in exchange for “carbon credits”.

Historically, only developed countries and multilateral banks made results-based payments to rainforest nations for their verified actions to conserve and restore forest lands. Now, businesses and individuals can also purchase carbon credits created from nationally issued, UNFCCC verified emissions reductions on REDD.plus.