5 September 2012: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held an informal additional session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), on 30 August 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand. The session included a discussion of policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to REDD+.

Discussions on REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) were based on views from Parties on modalities and procedures for financing results-based actions and considerations of activities related to REDD+. Participants also discussed: safeguards, drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, land tenure, forest governance, and gender mainstreaming.

The session produced elements for a decision to be considered at the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UNFCCC, scheduled to take place at the end of 2012, in Doha, Qatar. The elements include text on enabling conditions, institutional arrangements for financing, non-market alternatives for the establishment of joint mitigation and adaptation activities, and suggestions for future actions by the subsidiary bodies to the UNFCCC.

The UNFCCC also convened a workshop on “financing options for the full implementation of results-based actions relating to REDD+, including modalities and procedures for financing these results- based actions.” The workshop considered a technical paper summarizing the views of Parties and observer organizations. The focus of the workshop and associated outcomes included the role of the private sector as well as policy, institutional, governance and methodological considerations for REDD+ payments. [Informal Note on REDD+] [Informal Summary of the In-session Workshop]