November 2015: A policy brief, titled ‘Transforming REDD+ and achieving the SDGs through support for adaptation-mitigation synergy,’ reflects on how to incorporate the lessons learned from a decade of REDD+ implementation in the new climate agreement. The Brief was produced by the Alternatives to Slash and Burn (ASB) Partnership for the Tropical Forest at the World Agroforestry Centre, a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

The brief states that, “as predicted,” the sum of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to be presented to the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 21) will not achieve globally appropriate mitigation action, while current REDD+ finance is inadequate for supporting the instrument as originally envisaged. It notes that the choice for further REDD+ implementation appears to be between nationally prioritized climate actions within an SDG framework and a project-scale set of piece-meal interventions in selected locations, “with questionable effect on global emission reduction due to its source of finance.”

Highlighting the impact of recent forest fires on Indonesia’s emissions reduction efforts, the brief notes that national policies and international pressure focused on the value chains that currently rely on products from converted forests will only be effective “if they reach all sub-districts, not just setting a few nice examples.”

The brief recommends introducing climate-smart landscape approaches that simultaneously embrace mitigation and adaptation policies and programmes, as well as other environmental services, noting such approaches offer “strong alternatives to REDD+ as currently perceived,” through clarifying the scope and scale of problems, and ensuring that means for intervention are identified “within legitimate platforms that ensure sustainability through feedback mechanisms and continued learning.” It also calls for basing the INDCs on Locally Appropriate Adaptation plus Mitigation Actions (LAAMA) that are supported by monitoring schemes that build on existing accounting approaches, methodologies, guidance and guidelines and integrate with the SDGs at large.

The brief further notes that such local plans and commitments to sustainable livelihoods will provide a “real incentive” for the private sector to become involved and invest in the process, “as it secures value chains that stand up to scrutiny at the consumer end.” [Publication: Transforming REDD+ and achieving the SDGs through support for adaptation-mitigation synergy] [IISD RS Sources]