Protecting The Climate Forests : Why Reducing Tropical Deforestation Is In Americażs Vital National Interest

Protecting the Climate Forests Why reducing tropical deforestation is in America’s vital national interest Table of Contents Foreword…………………………….........................……………………………………………………………………….....…4 About the Commission…………………………………………………………………………………………………….....……5 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………………………...….......7 Core Messages……………………………………………………………………………………………………….................…8 Summary for Policy Makers…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…9 Climate Change and Tropical Forests……………………………………………………………………………………….…..16 Many Other Benefits……………………………………………………………………………………………………………....33 Financing Forest Emission Reductions……………………………………………………………………………………........37 International Cooperation…………………………………………………………………………………...….........................41 Designing U.S. Climate Legislation…………………………………………………………………………………………...…43 Incentivizing Local Action………………………………………………………………………………………………………...52 Environmental Safeguards…………………………………………………………………………………………………....….54 U.S. Climate Diplomacy and New Agreements…………………………………………………………………………….…..56 Making U.S. Policies Work Efficiently……………………………………………………………………………………….…..59 A Comprehensive Approach to Land-use Emissions……………………………………………………………………..…..65 Protecting the Climate Forests 3 Foreword The pace and severity of climate change are by now well established, and avoiding its worst effects will require coordinated global action to reduce emissions substantially, cost-effectively and without delay. Any new U.S. climate policies must help address the pervasive effects of deforestation, which accounts for 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire global transportation sector. Without incorporating robust tropical forest protections into new U.S. domestic climate laws and international agreements, all our other immediate efforts – to reduce emissions, expand clean energy and improve fuel efficiency – could be undermined by the continued destruction of the world’s carbon-rich tropical forests. In fact, avoiding unacceptable risks of potentially catastrophic climate change is likely to prove nearly impossible without conserving the planet’s “climate forests.” In cooperation with other interested nations, the United States must lead a global partnership to protect tropical forests, guided by the ambitious but feasible objectives of reducing emissions from tropical deforestation by half within a decade and achieving zero net emissions from deforestation by 2030. The severity of the threat we face demands immediate, bold and clear-headed action grounded in scientific realities and motivated by a full appreciation of U.S. economic, national security and environmental interests. Our nation must overcome the narrow political considerations of the moment to join in the most significant common project of our era. The United States can rise to this great challenge. Our nation has a long history of bipartisan leadership on tropical forest conservation within and outside of global climate change negotiations. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 approved by the House of Representatives on June 26th has moved tropical deforestation into the mainstream of the U.S. climate policy debate. The bill would create groundbreaking tropical forest conservation mechanisms, backed by major new financial incentives and government resources. With debate on these and other proposals likely in the Senate in the weeks and months ahead, and with important global climate talks occurring this December in Copenhagen, Denmark, the time is right for America to focus on what it can do to galvanize a global partnership to protect tropical forests. The Commission on Climate and Tropical Forests is a bipartisan group of former Senators, Cabinet officials, senior policy makers, and leaders from business, conservation, labor, global development, science and national security that has come together to help advise U.S. policy makers and the American people on how best to help reduce emissions from tropical deforestation. The Commission was formed in the spring of 2009 with the goal of laying out a workable path forward for Congress and the Administration on this crucial issue. The consensus findings, principles and recommendations contained in the accompanying report deliver on that promise and, if implemented, would lead to effective, politically viable protections for our planet’s climate forests. Lincoln Chafee, Co-Chair Former United States Senator, Rhode Island John Podesta, Co-Chair President and CEO, Center for American Progress 4 The Commission on Climate and Tropical Forests About the Commission Membership Lincoln Chafee, Co-Chair Former United States Senator, Rhode Island Nancy Birdsall President, Center for Global Development Frank Loy Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Lynn Scarlett Former Deputy Secretary of the Interior John Podesta, Co-Chair President and CEO, Center for American Progress Sherri Goodman Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security Michael G. Morris Chairman, President and CEO, American Electric Power General Gordon Sullivan Former Chief of Staff, United States Army Sam Allen President and Chief Executive Officer, Deere & Company Chuck Hagel Former United States Senator, Nebraska Thomas Pickering Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mark Tercek CEO, The Nature Conservancy D. James Baker Director, Global Carbon Measurement Program, The William J. Clinton Foundation Alexis Herman Former Secretary of Labor Cristián Samper Director, National Museum of Natural History Nigel Purvis, Executive Director President, Climate Advisers Protecting the Climate Forests 5 ... - tailieumienphi.vn