Over 100 world leaders are set to commit to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit’s first major deal
Brazil, where large parts of the Amazon rainforest have been cut down, will be among the signatories collected on Tuesday, supporting the end of deforestation.
The pledge includes almost $19.2bn USD of public and private funds.
Experts have welcomed the move but many have warned a previous deal in 2014 had “failed to slow deforestation at all” and commitments needed to be delivered on, as promised this time.
Felling trees contributes to climate change because it depletes forests that absorb vast amounts of CO2 emissions.
The two-week long UN summit held in Glasgow is seen as critical – as world leaders unite to reveal their respected nation’s plans to act on climate action.
Deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon Forest / Image: Supplied
Who exactly will commit to deforestation?
Among the 100 countries who say they will sign the pledge include Brazil, Canada, Russia and Indonesia – each in which cover around 85% of the world’s forests.
Parts of the provided funding will go to developing countries to restore damaged land, tackle wildfires and support indigenous communities.
Governments of 28 countries will also commit to remove deforestation from the global trade of food and other agricultural products such as palm oil, soya and cocoa.
These industries drive forest loss by cutting down trees to make space for animals to graze or crops to grow.
More than 30 of the world’s biggest companies will commit to end investment programmes linked to deforestation.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the global meeting in Glasgow, has labeled the commitment as a “landmark agreement to protect and restore the earth’s forests”.
US President Joe Biden addresses the COP26. / Image: File
Todays actions building on tomorrows future:
US President Joe Biden addressed the summit on Monday, stating that the United States will “lead by example” when it comes to implementing actions, targets and measures that address climate action.
The President called on world leaders to unite on the agenda, warning no country can escape what is to come if policymakers fail to seize the opportunity of making a change to global emissions.
“Right now, we’re still falling short. There’s no more time to hang back or sit on the fence or argue amongst ourselves,”
Biden said.
Boris Johnson at COP 26 / Image: File
Underwhelming G-20 summit
Biden’s arrival in Scotland’s largest city comes shortly after leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies appeared to fall short of meaningful climate pledges in Rome, Italy, over the weekend.
Rome’s G20 summit resulted in countries agreeing to pursue “meaningful and effective” action to cap global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius – that’s a threshold that is seen as critically important to avoid disaster.
However, the group offered few concrete actions to target climate change, with no explicit commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Anthony Lucas is reporter, presenter and social media producer with ticker News. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Professional Communication, with a major in Journalism from RMIT University as well as a Diploma of Arts and Entertainment journalism from Collarts. He’s previously worked for 9 News, ONE FM Radio and Southern Cross Austerio’s Hit Radio Network.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in Washington D.C. on Thursday.
The hours-long fiery hearing on Capitol Hill was incredibly tense as Chew was grilled by both Republicans and Democrats.
With bipartisan support, both parties are pushing for a nationwide ban on the app which the FBI has said threatens the national security of the United States.
TikTok says it has 150 million America users – almost half the country.
The CEO gave testimony to try and reassure lawmakers and Americans that TikTok is not an agent of the Chinese Communist Party, but critics aren’t convinced.
Chew was bombarded with questions from representatives from both sides of the aisle about the company’s ties to the CCP, security, data storage, well-being, and mental health.
Many lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of answers from the company.
Congress is now weighing a nationwide ban on the popular social media platform amid concerns that it is used to harvest Americans’ information and harm children online.
Protestors blocked a terminal at an airport and sat on train tracks
The ongoing nationwide protests in France over plans by the government to raise the retirement age by two years saw another day of disruption – events which President Emmanuel Macron has recently compared to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters two years ago.
Protestors blocked a terminal at Paris’s Charles De Gaulle airport.
Protesters also sat on train tracks, and reportedly triggered a brief fire in the yard of a police station in once city.
Protests have been mostly peaceful, but tear gas has been used against them on occasions.
The plan is to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
For comparison, the U.S. is slowly raising its retirement age to 67 and the UK plans to go to 68.
Polls have long shown that a majority of voters in France oppose the move.
Macron earlier in the week said he was standing firm on the law and that it would come into effect by the end of the year.
The government says the change is needed to keep pension budgets from running a deficit – failure would create an annual deficit of about $14 billion by 2030.
The move prompted Republicans in Congress to interfere with the course of justice
Manhattan prosecutors say Donald Trump has misled people to expect he would be arrested, prompting Republicans in Congress to interfere with the course of justice.
A probe is currently under way into his alleged hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.