La Viña, Antonio G.M.; de Leon, Alaya; Barrer, Reginald Rex --- "History and future of REDD+ in the UNFCCC: issues and challenges" [2016] ELECD 610; in Voigt, Christina (ed), "Research Handbook on REDD-Plus and International Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 11

Book Title: Research Handbook on REDD-Plus and International Law

Editor(s): Voigt, Christina

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781783478309

Section: Chapter 1

Section Title: History and future of REDD+ in the UNFCCC: issues and challenges

Author(s): La Viña, Antonio G.M.; de Leon, Alaya; Barrer, Reginald Rex

Number of pages: 19

Abstract/Description:

One of the most complex issues that the Parties to the UNFCCC had to address since the UNFCCC entered into force is how to approach the land-use sector, including forestry and agriculture. The land-use sector adds a major contribution to global emissions, and climate change will have serious impacts on the sector. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that emissions from land-use change, primarily deforestation, are estimated to contribute up to 17 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (IPCC, 2007). While there is still debate and uncertainty about how big the contribution of land-use processes to GHG emissions is in general, the land-use sector – particularly forestry and agriculture activities in both developed and developing countries – “provides opportunities for quick and meaningful gains in both adaptation and mitigation.” After initial resistance by some Parties, there is now broad agreement that the regulation of activities in the land-use sector, both as mitigation and adaptation, needs to be included in the global regime on climate change. But disagreement remains as to exactly what activities should be included, methodological issues, concerns regarding safeguards, and the implications for climate finance in the case of developing countries.