REDD: Bridging the Gap between Negotiation and Action

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF) outlines key messages for the Copenhagen climate talks based on workshops held in Vietnam and Kenya. It advocates for the inclusion of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and agriculture in international climate agreements, while emphasizing the need for balanced measurement requirements, regional cooperation to prevent leakage, and a phased implementation approach to support varying levels of national capacity.

• REDD and agriculture should be integrated into an international climate agreement. A comprehensive scope for REDD is necessary, covering the avoidance of deforestation, reduction of forest degradation, and the conservation and sustainable management of forests to maximize benefits. For African nations, including agriculture is particularly important to secure financial benefits for mitigation and co-benefits such as improved water quality and soil fertility.
• Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requirements must be balanced to ensure greenhouse gas emission integrity without creating excessive burdens that would discourage developing countries from participating or make REDD less attractive than other mitigation options.
• To address transboundary leakage—where deforestation activities shift to neighboring countries—the document suggests regional cooperation. It identifies the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as organizations with existing activities that could help reduce this risk.
• Successful REDD implementation depends on promoting social and environmental co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction, specifically for local communities. Providing these co-benefits at the local level is identified as the most effective way to mitigate non-permanence, as it creates continuous incentives even if REDD funding decreases.
• Financing for REDD should combine public grant funds for capacity building and readiness with market-based approaches. The document notes that the European Union Emission Trading System and a proposed Canadian cap-and-trade scheme currently do not accept international forestry offsets and should reconsider this.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2009). REDD: Bridging the Gap between Negotiation and Action. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_key_messages_copenhagen.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. REDD: Bridging the Gap between Negotiation and Action. 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_key_messages_copenhagen.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=REDD: Bridging the Gap between Negotiation and Action |date=2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_key_messages_copenhagen.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2009redd, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{REDD: Bridging the Gap between Negotiation and Action}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_key_messages_copenhagen.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }