6 Ways the G20 Can Maximize the Role of Forests in Climate Action

The briefing outlines a strategic framework for G20 nations to integrate forest conservation into climate action. It proposes six key measures: legal commitments to minimize deforestation, a collective goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, food system transformation, safeguarding Indigenous rights, improving non-timber forest product markets, and establishing high-quality nature-based carbon credit policies. The author emphasizes Indonesia's role as a 'carbon superpower' to lead by example through expanded moratoriums, social forestry permits, and robust carbon credit frameworks.

• Forests are critical for global climate and health goals, representing approximately 25% of planned emissions reductions by 2030 and serving as a barrier against zoonotic diseases caused by deforestation.
• The G20 has a significant role in forest conservation as eight of its members are among the top 10 countries with the largest forest areas, yet recent G20 declarations in Riyadh (2020) and Rome (2021) failed to explicitly mention "forest."
• Agricultural expansion is a primary driver of forest loss in several G20 nations: livestock and agriculture cause 80% of deforestation in Mexico, while oil palm and small-scale agriculture account for up to 40% in Indonesia.
• To lead the G20, Indonesia should implement specific domestic actions, including expanding its forest moratorium to secondary natural forests and mangroves, accelerating Social Forestry permits (which reached only 40% of the 12.7 million hectare 2024 target by 2021), and developing a verification framework for nature-based carbon credits.

APA

World Resources Institute (2022). 6 Ways the G20 Can Maximize the Role of Forests in Climate Action. https://www.wri.org/insights/6-ways-g20-can-maximize-role-forests-climate-action

Chicago

World Resources Institute. 6 Ways the G20 Can Maximize the Role of Forests in Climate Action. 2022. https://www.wri.org/insights/6-ways-g20-can-maximize-role-forests-climate-action.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=6 Ways the G20 Can Maximize the Role of Forests in Climate Action |date=27 April 2022 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/6-ways-g20-can-maximize-role-forests-climate-action |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2022ways, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{6 Ways the G20 Can Maximize the Role of Forests in Climate Action}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/6-ways-g20-can-maximize-role-forests-climate-action}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }