Linking climate action with sustainable development goals (SDGs) might incentivize social and political support to forest conservation. However, further examination of the conceptual entry points for linking efforts for reducing forest-based emissions with those for delivering SDGs is required. This review paper aims to contribute to fulfilling this research need. It provides insights into the links between conserving forests for climate change mitigation and peacebuilding. Specifically, the paper examines opportunities to harness climate finance for conserving forests and achieving long-lasting peace and sustainable food. It does so via a literature review and the examination of the Orinoquia region of Colombia. The findings from the literature review suggest that harnessing climate finance for conserving forests and peacebuilding is, in theory, viable if the activities are designed in accordance with social, institutional, and economic factors. Meanwhile, the Orinoquia region provides evidence that these two seemingly intractable problems are proposed to be solved together. At a time when efforts for reducing forest-based emissions are being designed and targeted at (post-) conflict areas in Colombia and elsewhere, the paper's findings might demonstrate the compatibility of programs aimed at reducing forest-based emissions with efforts relating to peacebuilding and sustainable food to both environmental and non-environmental government agencies. ; Peer Review
Of the countries considering national-level policies for incentivizing reductions in forest-based greenhouse gas emissions (REDD+), some 25 are experiencing (or are emerging from) armed-conflicts. It has been hypothesized that the outcomes of the interactions between carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts could result in either improved or worsened forest conservation and likewise increased or decreased conflict. Hence, for this study we explore potential interactions between forest carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts, with Colombia as a case study. Spatial associations between biomass carbon and three conflict-related variables suggest that such interactions may exist. Nonetheless, while priority areas for carbon-focused conservation are presumably those at highest risks of deforestation, our research indicates that forests with lower risk of deforestation are typically those affected by armed-conflict. Our findings moreover highlight three possible roles played by Colombian forested municipalities in armed groups' military strategies: venues for battle, hideouts, and sources of natural resources to finance war. ; Peer Review
The report "Towards a cocoa and chocolate chain free of deforestation and low in greenhouse gas emissions: Current status, opportunities with a value chain approach and plan of action" presents an input for the development of a cocoa chain free of deforestation and low in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Ucayali region. The document has been produced under the framework of the Sustainable Amazon Businesses (SAB) project, led by CIAT as part of the Bioversity International and CIAT Alliance, in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) of Peru, and in partnership with the international consulting firm Climate Focus (CF). This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The present plan aims to contribute to the effort of the Regional Government of Ucayali (GOREU) to reduce GHG emissions from the agricultural sector due to changes in land use in the Peruvian Amazon, in accordance with the Peruvian Government's international commitments to mitigate climate change. The document presents an innovative and novel plan to contribute to the environmental sustainability of the cacao and chocolate value chain, developed from the perspective of forest conservation and the recovery of degraded ecosystems and with solutions provided by value chain actors. The plan contributes to the Peruvian Government's efforts to comply with the National Determined Contributions (NDC) assumed at the Conference of the Parties - COP21 and the agreement between the Governments of Norway, Germany and Peru - Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) - two commitments that seek to reduce GHGs. It also seeks to promote the development of national plans, policies and programs with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDA) and Agenda 2030, which recognize that agriculture and climate change cannot be considered separately, and therefore call for a coherent and integrated approach to sustainability in the agriculture and environment sectors. This report provides information on the cocoa and chocolate chain that is as up-to-date as possible and very useful for the national and regional government, industry, producers, nongovernmental organizations and international cooperation agencies that are currently working on a chain that will contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in the Peruvian Amazon. For the development of this document designed and agreed with key actors in the sector, the project has signed a framework cooperation agreement with GOREU. Through this cooperation, the articulation of this document with the most relevant development and territorial planning and production instruments in the region has been verified. Furthermore, it is expected that the specific elements of this document will contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in the main management instruments of the Ucayali region and climate change in the country, among others: the Concerted Regional Development Plan (PDRC), the Regional Climate Change Strategy (ERCC) and the Low Emission Rural Development Strategy (ERBE). Based on this report, the SAB project intends to accompany the design and implementation of a pilot business model in the cocoa and chocolate chain, which will materialize several of the elements of this report, while taking advantage of emerging financial and market opportunities for products that are free of deforestation and low in GHG emissions. It is expected that this business model and its subsequent conversion into an investment model can serve for replication and scaling up in the region and in the country and, likewise, contribute with references of deforestation-free business models at the international level. Furthermore, it is expected that these models will serve as a basis for the generation of public policies that contribute to the sustainability of the sector.
Climate disasters affect human security and development, moreso in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where population' capacities to cope with climate change are compromised. Responses to such crises lie at the nexus of humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding. Yet, there are still too few integrated programmatic responses coordinating peacebuilding and climate actions to ensure a progressive human development. This research develops a multi-scalar model to help actors identify thematic areas to inform synergistic efforts and programs at different scales to better coordinate their actions. Findings suggest that climate action and peacebuilding sectors can coordinate actions around climate and conflict risk assessments, the management of land and water resources, ecosystem restoration, nature-based climate adaptation, climate and conflict smart agriculture, natural resources governance, and sustainable market development. These collaborative efforts have the potential to generate co-benefits, such as increased social cohesion and livelihood creation.
The report "Towards an oil palm chain that contributes to the conservation of forests and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: Current status, opportunities with a value chain approach and action plan" presents an input for the development of an environmentally sustainable oil palm chain in the Ucayali region. The document has been produced under the framework of the Sustainable Amazon Businesses (SAB) project, led by CIAT as part of the Bioversity International and CIAT Alliance, in coordination with MINAM and MINAGRI of Peru, and in partnership with the international consulting firm Climate Focus (CF). This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU). This plan aims to contribute to the effort of the Regional Government of Ucayali (GOREU) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector, due to the change in land use in the Peruvian Amazon, in accordance with the international commitments of the Peruvian Government for the mitigation of climate change. The document presents an innovative and novel plan to contribute to the environmental sustainability of the oil palm value chain, developed from the perspective of forest conservation and the recovery of degraded ecosystems and with solutions provided by value chain actors. The plan contributes to the Peruvian Government's efforts to comply with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) assumed at the Conference of the Parties - COP21 and the agreement between the Governments of Norway, Germany and Peru - Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) - two commitments that seek to reduce GHGs. It also seeks to promote the development of national plans, policies and programs with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDA) and Agenda 2030, which recognize that agriculture and climate change cannot be considered separately and therefore require a coherent and integrated approach to sustainability in the agriculture and environment sectors. This report provides information on the oil palm chain that is as up to date as possible, and very useful for the national and regional government, industry, producers, non-governmental organizations and international cooperation agencies, which are currently working towards a chain that will contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in the Peruvian Amazon. For the development of this document, designed and agreed with key actors in the sector, the project has signed a framework cooperation agreement with the Regional Government of Ucayali (GOREU). Through this cooperation, the articulation of this document with the most relevant development and territorial planning and production instruments of the region has been verified. In addition, the specific elements of this document are expected to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in the main management instruments for the Ucayali region and for climate change in the country, including: the Concerted Regional Development Plan (PDRC), the Regional Climate Change Strategy (ERCC) and the Low Emission Rural Development Strategy (ERBE). Based on this report, the SAB project intends to accompany the design and implementation of a pilot business model in the oil palm chain, which will materialize several of the elements of this report, where, in turn, it will take advantage of the emerging financial and market opportunities for products free of deforestation and low in GHG emissions. It is expected that this business model and its subsequent conversion into an investment model can serve for replication and scaling up in the region and in the country; likewise, it will contribute with the references of deforestation-free business models at an international level. Furthermore, it is expected that these models will serve as a basis for the generation of public policies that contribute to the sustainability of the sector.
SBSTA 45 in Marrakech represents a unique opportunity for Parties to decide on the future of agriculture within the UNFCCC. The process of discussions on issues related to agriculture initiated at COP17 in Durban 2011 culminates at COP22 in Marrakech 2016. The explicit reference to food security in the preamble of the Paris Agreement and the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions which prioritize agriculture as a sector for adaptation and mitigation actions, provide a foundation for Parties to develop appropriate frameworks to support actions within the agricultural sector. SBSTA workshops on agriculture in 2015 and 2016 allowed Parties to share experiences, identify priorities, and propose ways of taking action within the agricultural sector and so provide the core knowledge base to work from. As Parties reach a decision on issues related to agriculture at SBSTA 45, a number of options are available. This report presents ten such options that might contribute to a decision, taking into consideration political priorities, implementation arrangements, timelines and level of ambition. Options outlined in this report are not mutually exclusive and can be combined in many different ways.
