Blue Carbon and the New Scramble for Africa’s Forests

Blue Carbon LLC, a private company based in Dubai, is finalising deals with at least six African countries to acquire huge swathes of their forests to harvest carbon credits. Although the deals are shrouded in secrecy, it appears that at least 25 million hectares of forests – an area larger than the UK – may be handed to Blue Carbon.  

These deals not only pose serious risks to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living in these areas, they also undermine these countries’ ability to use their forests to meet their own climate commitments. These credits are also likely to be used by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other rich, polluting countries to increase fossil fuel development - further deepening the climate crisis. 

This statement signed by NGOs from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States calls upon Paris Agreement signatories to close loopholes that allow landgrabs.  

Note: many NGOs attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai were not able to sign the statement as they have been informed that it is considered illegal to criticise the Government, the Royal Family or their businesses in UAE. 

Categoria: NGO Statements