U.S. REDD+ Programs: Addressing Climate Change by Conserving and Restoring the World's Forests 2010


As an important part of President Obama’s new Global Development Policy and the United States’ commitment to “fast start” financing in the Copenhagen Accord, we are dedicating $1 billion over the FY 2010—2012 timeframe to REDD+ activities that help countries to slow, halt, and eventually reverse deforestation.

U.S. REDD+ fast start financing focuses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancing sequestration by forests. Other landscapes with high mitigation potential, such as peatlands and wetlands, may also be addressed.

REDD+ activities offer cost-effective opportunities to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions while providing other sustainable development benefits, such as improved local livelihoods, economic growth, and enhanced ecosystem services. The United States recognizes, as does the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, that all nations should promote sustainable development and the realities of climate change require a sustainable, low emissions development path. This path offers opportunities for countries to improve the living standards of their people by ensuring sound economic growth while protecting the environment.

As part of the Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI) under the Administration’s Global Development Policy, the United States seeks to mobilize financing from all sources, including the private sector, to leverage the respective strengths of multilateral and bilateral assistance mechanisms. We will work to ensure that our climate finance is efficient, effective, and innovative, based on country-owned plans, and focused on achieving measurable results. We will focus our bilateral efforts on those countries and regions where we have a comparative advantage, and will coordinate closely with other donors.

The United States is taking a multipronged approach to the problem. A variety of U.S. agencies are working to help countries get “ready” for REDD+ actions, including USAID as well as our technical agencies which are collaborating with developing countries to share the best of U.S. science, technology, and expertise through global, regional, and bilateral initiatives.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 9:00am

Last updated: December 16, 2013