The United Kingdom has recently launched a bold declaration to “halt deforestation” and land degradation by 2030, known as the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. Despite its global importance, India did not sign the document due to objections to the inclusion of “trade” in the context of climate change and forest issues.
Understanding the Declaration
This sweeping declaration is designed to harmonize global efforts to meet sustainability goals in the areas of land use, climate control, biodiversity, and overall sustainable development. One of its key pillars is recognizing the integral role that smallholders, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities play in forest stewardship. These groups often rely heavily on forests for their livelihoods.
To achieve these broad objectives, the declaration encourages sustainable production and consumption, improvements in infrastructure development, trade, finance, and investment. It also aims to balance anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by boosting removal by sinks, facilitating adaptation to climate change, and maintaining other vital ecosystem services.
Who Are the Signatories?
Over 105 countries have signed the declaration, including major global players like the UK, US, Russia, and China, representing 75% of global trade and 85% of global forests in commodities like palm oil, cocoa, and soya, which pose threats to forests. The signatories have pledged public funds amounting to USD 12 billion from 2021-25 to support the initiative.
Reiterating Commitment to Previous Agreements
The declaration reaffirms the commitments of the signatories to several key international environmental treaties and initiatives, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Key Aspects of the Declaration
The declaration hinges on five main aspects: conservation of forests and terrestrial ecosystems; promotion of sustainable development policies that support responsible commodity production and consumption; building resilience to reduce vulnerability; recognizing the rights of indigenous people while promoting sustainable agriculture; and substantial financial commitments from varied public and private sources.
India’s Position
In spite of being a G20 nation, India chose not to sign the declaration along with Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. The bone of contention for these countries was the interlinking of trade with climate change and forest issues, given that trade falls under the purview of the World Trade Organization.
Despite refusing to sign the declaration, India maintains that its forest and tree cover have increased over recent years. However, environmentalists argue that the government is eroding existing environmental protections to clear the way for mining and infrastructure projects that could have irreversible impacts on forests, wildlife, and local communities.
