In Cancún, World Leaders Call for Quick Action on Forests

Major world leaders gathered today at an event sponsored by non-profit Avoided Deforestation Partners to call on the global community to work towards a speedy end to deforestation, a major source of global CO2 emissions and driver of climate change.

"The time for global action to protect forests is now," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Developing countries are willing to lead. Let's hope they receive appropriate financial support."

Negotiations on forest protection, or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, are seen as one of the brightest hopes for a breakthrough at the Cancún negotiations on a global climate agreement.

"An agreement on forests is very much within reach here in Cancún," said Avoided Deforestation Partners founder Jeffrey Horowitz, the event's host. "We must not let any one nation be allowed to hold forest protection hostage to other goals."

World Bank President Robert Zoellick announced a new Wildlife Premium initiative that will provide additional incentives to protect endangered animals such as tigers, great apes, and elephants as part of REDD+ financing for forest and climate protection.

Major world leaders gathered today at an event sponsored by non-profit Avoided Deforestation Partners to call on the global community to work towards a speedy end to deforestation, a major source of global CO2 emissions and driver of climate change.

"The time for global action to protect forests is now," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Developing countries are willing to lead. Let's hope they receive appropriate financial support."

Negotiations on forest protection, or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, are seen as one of the brightest hopes for a breakthrough at the Cancún negotiations on a global climate agreement.

"An agreement on forests is very much within reach here in Cancún," said Avoided Deforestation Partners founder Jeffrey Horowitz, the event's host. "We must not let any one nation be allowed to hold forest protection hostage to other goals."

World Bank President Robert Zoellick announced a new Wildlife Premium initiative that will provide additional incentives to protect endangered animals such as tigers, great apes, and elephants as part of REDD+ financing for forest and climate protection.