Climate Change Initiative Announced at UN Summit
Microfinance Focus Europe, 20 November 2013: A new program aiming to reduce tropical deforestation and address climate change was presented to the EU Commission during the UN Climate Change Summit currently being held in Warsaw.
The program, titled the "Dutch REDD+ Business Initiative,” was developed by Four Netherlands-based organizations, Eneco, Essent, Desso and FMO. The organizations involved in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (REDD+) initiative are campaigning at the UN conference in order to gain broad support from governments, non-profit and the private sector.
REDD+ is currently being negotiated as part of a new climate deal expected to be reached in two years.
The businesses committed to the REDD+ initiative believe reducing greenhouse gas emissions goes hand in hand with protecting biodiversity in the tropics. The new program uses climate finance to stem tropical deforestation, one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
"Tropical deforestation must stop and we can play our part, said Roland G. A. Jonkhoff, managing director of Dutch carpet producer Desso, one of the initiative’s participants.
The REDD+ Business Initiative was launched by the “Dutch Platform Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Economy,” an initiative by the Dutch Confederation of Employers and Investors and the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands. Funding was contributed by the Dutch Ministry for Economic Affairs.
