Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) has come into prominence following the recognition that land use change, principally deforestation, is responsible for 12-20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, tropical forests provide multiple ecosystem services and support the livelihoods of an estimated 1.6 billion of the world’s poorest people who are dependent on forest resources. REDD+ has the potential to help promote environmental and socially sustainable use and conservation of forest resources as part of development strategies, provided safeguards, inclusive gender-responsive beneficiary schemes and traditional and indigenous usage rights are acknowledged and protected.

The Warsaw Framework on REDD+ negotiated at COP 19 highlighted the importance of safeguards implementation in addition to a focus on financing for verified emissions reductions results. The idea of harnessing carbon market-based mechanisms to support REDD+ has attracted substantial interest. Although the structure and future of such a potential market remains uncertain, a large share of REDD+ finance has been spent on 'readiness' activities to prepare countries for funding based on demonstrated reductions of deforestation and associated emissions. 

This briefing analyses the role that REDD+ can play in the global climate finance architecture.