Supporting international climate negotiators: lessons learned by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations

The document outlines the role of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) in supporting developing countries during international climate negotiations, specifically focusing on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It argues that the Kyoto Protocol failed to address deforestation, which accounts for approximately 20% of annual global CO2 emissions, and details CfRN's strategies for capacity building, including technical support, negotiation training, and securing leadership roles for delegates. Case studies from the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, and Liberia illustrate the practical application of these supports in national policy and international diplomacy.

• The Kyoto Protocol is noted for its failure to include an effective mechanism for forest conservation or the prevention of deforestation, despite the fact that deforestation is responsible for roughly 20% of global annual carbon dioxide emissions.
• Deforestation leads to significant environmental and social consequences, including soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and disrupted water cycles, which reduce a nation's ability to handle disasters like flash floods and landslides. It also threatens the livelihoods of millions in developing countries who depend on rainforests for food, fuel, and commercial products.
• CfRN provides critical 'in-theatre' support during UNFCCC sessions to compensate for the small size of developing country delegations, including holding pre-sessional strategy meetings and daily briefings to align positions.
• CfRN's support in Papua New Guinea enabled a new delegate to maintain a leadership role as co-chair of the 'G and China Coordination Group on the New Market Based Mechanism' through on-site technical assistance and report drafting.

APA

BIETTA, M. F., CHUNG, M. P., & MASSAI, M. L. (2013). Supporting international climate negotiators: lessons learned by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_CfRN_6pp_final_web-res-copy.pdf

Chicago

BIETTA, Ms. Federica, Mr. Paul CHUNG, and Mr. Leonardo MASSAI. Supporting international climate negotiators: lessons learned by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2013. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_CfRN_6pp_final_web-res-copy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BIETTA |first1=Ms. Federica |last2=CHUNG |first2=Mr. Paul |last3=MASSAI |first3=Mr. Leonardo |title=Supporting international climate negotiators: lessons learned by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=November 2013 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_CfRN_6pp_final_web-res-copy.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bietta2013supporting, author = {BIETTA, Ms. Federica and CHUNG, Mr. Paul and MASSAI, Mr. Leonardo}, title = {{Supporting international climate negotiators: lessons learned by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_CfRN_6pp_final_web-res-copy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }