The LEAF Coalition, which stands for “Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance,” is a public-private initiative aimed at combating deforestation and accelerating climate action by mobilizing finance for tropical and subtropical forest conservation. Here are some key points about the LEAF Coalition: ### Purpose: – **Deforestation Reduction**: The primary goal of the LEAF Coalition is to significantly reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. – **Financial Mobilization**: The coalition aims to generate large-scale financial support for countries and jurisdictions that are committed to forest conservation and sustainable land use. ### Key Features: – **Public-Private Partnership**: LEAF is a collaboration between governments and major companies, leveraging both public and private finance. – **Jurisdictional Approach**: The coalition focuses on large-scale jurisdictional programs, which can include entire countries or significant sub-national regions. – **High-Quality Credits**: It promotes high-integrity, high-quality emissions reduction credits from forest conservation efforts. ### Founding Members: – **Governmental Support**: Initial governmental participants include the governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom. – **Corporate Participation**: Major corporations such as Amazon, Nestlé, Unilever, and others are key private sector participants. ### Operation: – **Emissions Reduction Payments**: LEAF pays for verified emissions reductions, which provides a financial incentive for tropical and subtropical forest conservation. – **Transparent Standards**: The coalition adheres to rigorous standards to ensure the integrity and transparency of emissions reductions. ### Impact: – **Climate Goals**: The coalition aims to support global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing deforestation-related emissions. – **Biodiversity Conservation**: In addition to climate benefits, LEAF also contributes to biodiversity conservation and the protection of ecosystems. This initiative represents a significant step in leveraging international cooperation and substantial financial resources to address one of the most critical aspects of climate change and environmental conservation.
LEAF Coalition
