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

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six strategic measures for G20 leaders to maximize the role of forests in climate mitigation, food security, and pandemic recovery. It specifically urges Indonesia, as the 2022 G20 president, to lead by example by strengthening its own forest governance and promoting high-quality nature-based carbon credits.

• Forests are critical for global climate goals, representing approximately 25% of planned emissions reductions by 2030, and support the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people globally. Within G20 Member States, roughly 400 million people live within 1 kilometer of a forest.
• The G20 faces significant challenges with deforestation driven by agricultural commodities. In Mexico, agriculture and livestock cause 80% of deforestation, while in Indonesia, oil palm plantations and small-scale agriculture account for up to 40%. In Argentina, the Gran Chaco forest area has decreased by 10% over the last 20 years.
• The author proposes six measures for G20 leaders: encouraging legal commitments to minimize natural forest deforestation; reiterating the goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030; transforming food systems to align with environmental safeguards; ensuring the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities; improving the market demand for non-timber forest products (NTFPs); and establishing policies for nature-based carbon credits with social and environmental safeguards.
• Specific restoration targets have been set by G20 members, including China's plan for 30% forest coverage of land by 2050, South Africa's aim to plant 3.6 million hectares of forest and land areas since 2017, and Indonesia's commitment to restore 600,000 hectares of mangrove forest.
• To lead the G20 by example, Indonesia should expand its permit moratorium to include mangroves and secondary natural forests, accelerate Social Forestry permits for local communities (having only reached 40% of its 12.7 million hectare 2024 target by 2021), and develop a robust framework for high-quality 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} }