COP26 pledge to end deforestation no more than a rebranding of previous flawed attempts to greenwash increased carbon emissions

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to halt deforestation as a rebranding of flawed initiatives that allow corporations and polluting nations to offset emissions rather than reduce them, warning that it risks facilitating land grabbing and human rights violations.

• The COP26 pledge to halt deforestation is characterized as hypocritical and full of loopholes, potentially allowing corporations and high-polluting countries to continue fossil fuel emissions by investing in forests. The author compares the finance pledges to REDD+ initiatives, which are described as having failed to stop climate change and having caused global land grabbing and land rights violations over the last decade.
• The UK Government is providing 200 Million GBP to the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance (LEAF) Coalition. This initiative sells carbon credits for avoided deforestation, enabling companies such as Amazon, Delta Airlines, Bayer, Unilever, and Black Rock to offset planned emissions expansions using land in the global South.
• Previous global efforts to stop deforestation are cited as failures: the New York Declaration to halt deforestation by 2030 was followed by significant increases in deforestation, and the Bonn Challenge to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land resulted in nearly 50% of that area becoming industrial tree plantations.
• The COP26 pledge is described as vague and unenforceable, particularly if it relies on private finance, offsets, or carbon market mechanisms. The document argues that real progress requires strong regulatory action and the implementation of binding Human Rights instruments, such as UNDRIP and UNDROP, to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and small-scale food producers.
• Signatories to the pledge are accused of continuing to drive deforestation. Specifically, the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement is expected to increase beef imports to the EU by 50%, driving deforestation in the Amazon. Additionally, Brazil is noted for conducting an offensive against Indigenous Peoples' rights despite its pledge in Glasgow.

APA

FOEIAdmin (2021). COP26 pledge to end deforestation no more than a rebranding of previous flawed attempts to greenwash increased carbon emissions. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/cop26-pledge-to-end-deforestation/

Chicago

FOEIAdmin. COP26 pledge to end deforestation no more than a rebranding of previous flawed attempts to greenwash increased carbon emissions. Friends of the Earth International, 2021. https://www.foei.org/cop26-pledge-to-end-deforestation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=FOEIAdmin |title=COP26 pledge to end deforestation no more than a rebranding of previous flawed attempts to greenwash increased carbon emissions |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=3 November 2021 |url=https://www.foei.org/cop26-pledge-to-end-deforestation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{foeiadmin2021cop26, author = {FOEIAdmin}, title = {{COP26 pledge to end deforestation no more than a rebranding of previous flawed attempts to greenwash increased carbon emissions}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/cop26-pledge-to-end-deforestation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }