Based on consultations with Parties at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), the Brazilian Presidency agreed to develop a Roadmap to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030—a target set out by the first global stocktake (GST1) (the Roadmap). This Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) submission responds to the Presidency’s call for civil society input. This submission underscores the need for a designated implementing leader to take forward this target. It highlights the importance of strengthened international cooperation, alignment with GST2 and calls for the Roadmap to reflect progress assessed under GST1, while helping to shape GST2 outcomes, with a view to informing discussions and outcomes at COP31.The submission also highlights key barriers and solutions.
The Roadmap aims to implement paragraphs 33 and 34 of the GST1 outcome. These paragraphs emphasize the protection and restoration of ecosystems, especially by halting deforestation by 2030 and increasing financial, technological, and policy support to help Parties, particularly developing ones, sustainably reduce emissions while preserving biodiversity.1UN Framework Convention on Climate Change [hereinafter UNFCCC], Outcome of the first global stocktake, Decision 1/CMA.5, ¶¶ 33-34 (March 15, 2024), https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma2023_16a01E.pdf.
This submission draws upon and updates a C2ES October 2024 discussion paper Enhancing Action and International Cooperation for Halting and Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation2Center for Climate and Energy Solutions [hereinafter C2ES], Enhancing Action and International Cooperation for Halting and Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation, (Washington, DC: C2ES, October 2024), https://www.c2es.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Halting-and-Reversing-Deforestation-by-2030-DiscussionPaper.pdf. that focuses on the GST1’s call to enhance efforts, support, and investment towards halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, recognizing the importance of conserving, protecting, and restoring nature and ecosystems in the context of achieving the Paris Agreement temperature goal. In doing so, this submission sets out key considerations, including the need for effective leadership to drive implementation, the upcoming GST2, and barriers and solutions.
The COP30 Presidency could usefully:
1. A key priority at COP30 was demonstrating progress in halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, a target set out by GST1 in 2023.3UNFCCC, Outcome of the first global stocktake, Decision 1/CMA.5, ¶¶ 33-34. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 2025 Global Forests Assessment Report finds that deforestation has slowed, but the world is still off track to meet this target by 2030.4Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/090d2fbb-32a6- 412b-a3b8-1ce5c5905df2.
2. Ahead of and during informal consultations with the COP30 Presidency, Parties called for a Roadmap to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 as a formal outcome. However, there was no consensus to launch the Roadmap under the formal UNFCCC process. COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago announced the Presidency would set out its own Roadmap on halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 by COP31.
3. The Roadmap seeks to be an action-oriented document that: offers guidance; identifies existing means of implementation and solutions being accelerated through the Climate High Level Champions (CHLC) GCAA; and highlights obstacles and gaps to be addressed. The Roadmap is also an opportunity to showcase policies and measures that have been successfully implemented in real situations and can be replicated in other contexts.
4. Leadership is critical to the Roadmap’s success to achieve the deforestation and forest degradation GST1 target. For several reasons, the COP30 Presidency could usefully identify and endorse leadership that can focus on delivering and implementing the goal of halting and reversing deforestation by 2030. The Brazilian Presidency concludes at COP31, raising questions about the continuity of the Roadmap beyond 2026.
5. The COP30 Presidency should identify a leading organization or coalition of the willing to coordinate and steer action which could enable far greater and faster implementation than would otherwise be the case. The Brazilian Presidency could also consider convening a global forum or task force to identify and endorse leadership that can focus on delivering the GST1 outcome. This leader should be responsible for tracking and reporting progress toward the achievement of the signal at upcoming COPs to generate further momentum.
6. A single leader or organized coalition of the willing could coordinate networks of organizations and countries and more effectively align the Roadmap with the work of the GCAA. The COP30 Presidency’s Fourth Letter5André Aranha Correa do Lago, “Fourth Letter from the Presidency,” COP30, June 20, 2025, https://cop30.br/en/brazilianpresidency/letters-from-the-presidency/fourth-letter-from-the-presidency. presents a joint Presidency and CHLC approach to the GCAA, focusing on implementation of GST1 and NDCs. The Letter establishes 30 key objectives under six axes to reflect solutions required to implement the GST outcomes.6 André Aranha Correa do Lago, “Fourth Letter from the Presidency.” The CHLC’s five-year plan15 further clarifies how the GCAA will operationalize this agenda across the voluntary climate action ecosystem through to 2030. Axis 2 (“Stewarding forests, oceans and biodiversity”) includes a coalition of organizations working on forests and climate that can contribute to the work of the Roadmap.7 “Global Climate Action at COP30,” UNFCCC, accessed March 13, 2026, https://unfccc.int/climateaction/events/global-climate-action-at-cop/global-climate-action-at-cop-30#Cop-30-Action-Agenda-priorities. The COP30 Presidency should consider linking the Roadmap with Axis 2 of the GCAA, which could contribute to enhancing international cooperation and accelerating progress.
7. It is critical that the Roadmap respect national circumstances. The need for an inclusive approach is equally as important as the case for clear leadership. Additionally, the nationally determined nature of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPS), and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LTLEDS) and their domestic implementation must be clearly reiterated and respected.
8. The technical phase of GST2 will begin at COP31. The COP30 Presidency should consider the Roadmap’s recommendations in relation to GST2, including potential recommendations for targets and signals for GST2 regarding halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation. Recommendations may include an assessment of progress toward the GST1 target, identification of key actors and organizations driving advancement, and an evaluation of the remaining work required to achieve the GST1 target.
9. The Roadmap could inform the GST2 technical phase by providing information and serving as a source of input. This could in turn foster stronger and more effective international cooperation on deforestation and forest degradation, as it could give a holistic picture for the GST1 target.
10. The COP30 Presidency may also want to consider aligning timelines and recommendations with NAP implementation and NDCs 4.0 that are due in 2030. Recommendations included in the Roadmap should align with NDCs and NAPs such as highlighting mitigation and adaptation accomplishments or needs from developed and developing countries on deforestation.
11. Research conducted by C2ES found that 17 percent of the first 29 NDCs 3.0 submitted to the UNFCCC did not include any reference to deforestation and forest degradation. Of those 29, only one explicitly committed to initiatives that would halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030.8C2ES, NDCs 3.0: How Global Stocktake Targets and Signals Inform New National Climate Commitments, (Washington, DC: C2ES, 2025), 5, https://www.c2es.org/document/ndcs-3-0-how-gst-targets-and-signals-informnew-commitments/.
12. The following section sets out barriers and solutions as identified by C2ES and others.
13. Parties still face a number of regulatory, economic, social, and technological barriers to reverse and halt deforestation and forest degradation. As identified by C2ES9 Kaveh Guilanpour et al., A Solutions-oriented Approach to the Paris Agreement’s Global; Lavanya Rajamani et al., Re-invigorating the UN Climate Regime in the Wider Landscape of Climate Action, (Arlington, VA: C2ES, November 2023), https://www.c2es.org/document/re-invigorating-the-un-climate-regime/. as well as the GST’s Technical Dialogue Synthesis report,10 UNFCCC, Technical dialogue of the first global stocktake: Synthesis report by the co-facilitators on the technical dialogue (Bonn, Germany: September 8, 2023, UNFCCC), https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/sb2023_09E.pdf. these challenges include:
14. Many developing countries in particular face challenges that include financial and governance constraints due to agriculture, cropland, urbanization and mining activities. Protected areas, conservation efforts, sustainably made commodity products, agroforestry, and improving governance can help reverse and halt deforestation.
15. The GST1 decision notes that developing countries need an estimated U.S. $5.8-5.9 trillion for their efforts to implement the second round of NDCs for the pre-2030 period.12C2ES, Rising to the Climate Finance Challenge (Arlington, VA: C2ES, April 2024), https://www.c2es.org/document/rising-to-the-climate-finance-challenge/. UNFCCC, Standing Committee of Finance Second report on the determination of the needs of developing country Parties related to implementing the Convention and the Paris Agreement (Bonn, Germany: 2024, UNFCCC), https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/UNFCCC_NDR2_ES_Web_Final.pdf. The UN Environment Programme notes that annual forest-specific investment must more than triple to U.S. $300 billion annually by 2030 in order to achieve the Rio Convention targets related to climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.13UN Environment Programme, State of Finance for Forests 2025: Unlock. Unleash. Realizing Forest Potential requires Tripling Investments in Forests by 2030 (Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP, October 2025), https://wedocs.unep.org/items/ac9bd3a0-f0d5-4e6b-9970-ed7156182055. Neither forest finance nor climate finance pledged and provided is anywhere near that scale. In this context, the adoption of a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) at COP29 set a new total climate finance target of at least U.S. $1.3 trillion annually by 2035—with at least U.S. $300 billion annually to be provided and mobilized—to developing countries. If achieved, this support can better support the achievement of goals of the Paris Agreement, as well as tackling deforestation.14UNFCCC, New collective quantified goal on climate finance, Decision 1/CMA.6 (March 27, 2025), https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma2024_17a01E.pdf.
16. A number of high-impact solutions and opportunities to address key challenges have been identified through a wealth of efforts across different fora. The following list draws from C2ES’s work as well as the CHLCs 2030 Climate Solutions:15Kaveh Guilanpour et al., A Solutions-oriented Approach to the Paris Agreement’s Global; Lavanya Rajamani et al., Re-invigorating the UN Climate Regime in the Wider Landscape of Climate Action (Arlington, VA: C2ES, November 2023); UN High Level Climate Champions [hereinafter CHLCs], 2030 Climate Solutions: Implementation Roadmap (Bonn, Germany: CHLC, December 2023), https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2030- Climate-Solutions-Publication-Implementation-roadmap.pdf.
| Actions, solutions, and enablers for halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation |
| Assessing and mitigating deforestation-related risks in financial institutions, in line with the Deforestation-Free Finance Sector Roadmap, and scaling investments in nature-based solutions. (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Conserving healthy, living forests, and supporting the livelihoods of forest dependent communities, including through large-scale incentive programs (Source: C2ES) |
| Expanding natural carbon sinks (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Developing new tools and resources for civil society and calling on financial institutions to address deforestation and land conversion. (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Curbing and reversing deforestation and degradation, including by expanding conservation areas, instituting moratoria on forest conversion, securing tenure and protection of Indigenous territories, encouraging sustainable land-use practices, developing sustainable land-use and management plans, and decreasing pressure from the agricultural sector (Source: C2ES) |
| Mainstreaming deforestation guidance through climate transition plans through Investor Climate Action Plan and Net Zero Investment Framework guidance. (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Setting policy targets in government institutions for halting and reversing deforestation and land conversion and the recognition and adoption of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) regarding rights of Indigenous communities (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Integrating local communities and civil society in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of conservation activities to ensure good governance, accountability, rule of law, and the upholding of human rights (Source: C2ES) |
| Improving finance to support climate proofed area-based management tools, through tools including funds from governments, public-private partnership, payment for ecosystem services and innovative financing sources (e.g., debt conversion deals for nature and climate) and trust funds or coalition for private investment (Source: 2030 Climate Solutions) |
| Strengthening synergies and avoiding trade-offs between climate action and action needed to halt and reverse biodiversity and ecosystem loss and degradation and put nature on a path to recovery by 2030, in a manner that is consistent with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Source: C2ES) |
| Expanding support for ecosystem stewardship by indigenous peoples and local communities, including by strengthening legislation for securing land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities according to traditional values and practices of land tenure (Source: C2ES) |
| Promoting nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches as an adaptation option for terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and ocean ecosystems and urban environments, including for significantly enhancing resilience and reducing exposure of coastal communities impacted by sea level rise (Source: C2ES) |
| Restoring areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, mangrove and marine and coastal ecosystems (Source: C2ES) |
| Conserving and managing areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services through ecologically representative, well-connected, and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (Source: C2ES) |
| Implementing deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions at their sources, while minimizing other ecosystem stressors different from climate change such as changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, pollution, and invasion of alien species. (Source: C2ES) |
17. The CHLCs and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action identify impactful climate solutions and opportunities for international cooperation.16The role of the CHLCs was established at COP21 to connect the work of governments with the main voluntary and collaborative actions taken by cities, regions, businesses, and investors. The CHLCs’ initiatives and analytical work are offered as valuable resources to Parties in taking climate action. “The High-Level Climate Champions,” UNFCCC, accessed on March 27, 2026, https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/un-climate-change-high-levelchampions/. At COP28, in the context of the conclusion of the GST and building on prior work, the CHLCs presented the 2030 Climate Solutions—an Implementation Roadmap that sets out solutions framed in specific actions, with insights from a wide range of nonParty stakeholders (NPS) on effective measures that must be scaled up and replicated, as well as current gaps that need to be bridged.17CHLCs, 2030 Climate Solutions: Implementation Roadmap. The Climate Solutions recommend key actions for halting deforestation and investing in nature.18CHLCs, 2030 Climate Solutions: Implementation Roadmap. These recommendations for actions and support overlap with high-impact opportunities and solutions to address barriers to renewable energy, as also identified in work by C2ES.
18. The COP28 and COP30 Presidencies, UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 and COP16 Presidencies and UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP15 Presidency have also highlighted the following policy actions:19“COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People,” COP28, accessed March 24, 2026, https://www.cop28.com/en/joint-statement-on-climate-nature.
Enhancing Action & International Cooperation for Halting and Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation (October 2024) https://www.c2es.org/document/enhancing-action-international-cooperation-for-halting-andreversing-deforestation-and-forest-degradation/
Enhancing Action & International Cooperation for Nature-Based Solutions and EcosystemBased Approaches (June 2025) https://www.c2es.org/document/enhancing-action-international-cooperation-for-nature-basedsolutions-and-ecosystem-based-approaches/
NDCs 3.0: How Global Stocktake Targets and Signals Inform New National Climate Commitments (August 2025) https://www.c2es.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20250822-C2ES-How-The-GlobalStocktake-Informs-New-National-Climate-Plans.pdf
The Potential Impact of Aligning Biodiversity Efforts in National Climate Plans (October 2025) https://www.c2es.org/2025/10/potential-impact-of-aligning-biodiversity-efforts-in-nationalclimate-plans/
