Australia has become a founding member of the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership, a new international group to accelerate the contribution of forests to global climate action.
The UK-led voluntary partnership was formally launched today at COP27 in Egypt to maintain the momentum of global action on climate change through forest-based initiatives. In addition to Australia, other members of the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership include Canada, Ecuador, Finland, Gabon, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the UK and the US.
The new partnership is dedicated to advancing ambition from the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use, of which Australia is a signatory, to help achieve the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Global Forest Goals.
Australia is already contributing to global action to reduce emissions from forestry activities as a founding member of the Global Forest Observations Initiative. Australia also supports countries in our region to enhance their natural resource management, conservation and protection.
In the decade to 2020, Australia increased its forested area by 4.4 million hectares, the second largest increase for any nation in that period.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said, 'The Australian Government is getting ahead with climate action, working with industry and the community to decarbonise the economy and our forests will play a crucial role in this transition.'
'By joining this partnership, we will maintain the momentum of global action on climate change as we work to reduce our emissions by 43% by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050.'
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said, 'Australia is home to over 130 million hectares of native forest and the Australian Government is taking strong action to protect, manage and restore these vulnerable ecosystems.'
'The foundation of this partnership demonstrates our ambition and reaffirms our recent commitment to protect and conserve 30% of Australia's land and 30% of Australia's marine areas by 2030.'
Joint media release: Australia joins forests partnership to drive climate action
