The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many climate and biodiversity policy reforms. For example, world governments recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of the ground-breaking Paris Agreement while postponing major events such as the 26th Climate Conference of Parties (COP26) and the Biodiversity COP15.
But action in forested countries continues.
In both the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo, important advances on the domestic legislative front have been welcomed enthusiastically. But this is tempered by concern when it comes to the process of revising Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) (countries’ plans for fighting the climate crisis which are sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)).
This second edition of our Forest Governance newsletter explains that civil society organisations have insisted with one voice on ensuring a stronger focus on community rights and forest protection in the NDCs. In both countries they call for an inclusive process that underscores the respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge; and that integrates gender sensitivity. All of which should be underpinned by increased transparency and accountability:
