Baku, Azerbaijan – November 2024
At the UNFCCC COP29, AFoCO made significant contributions to discussions on forest cooperation, climate action, and carbon market access. Through active participation in various key events and presentations, AFoCO reinforced its commitment to sustainable forest management and advancing global climate goals.
Grand Opening of the Forest Pavilion: A Call for Action and Collaboration
The Forest Pavilion’s grand opening set an ambitious tone for COP29, emphasizing forests as central to global climate efforts. Ms. Juliette Biao, Director of the UN Forum on Forests Secretariat, delivered an inspiring welcome, highlighting the Pavilion’s purpose as a multi-stakeholder platform for advancing ambitious forest policies, investments, and partnerships. She underscored the critical need to place forests at the forefront of the global political agenda to facilitate an equitable, just, and orderly transition to net-zero.
Guest speakers, including H.E. Mr. Prosper Dodiko, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock of Burundi, and H.E. Mr. Laurent Tchagba, Minister of Water and Forests of Côte d’Ivoire, echoed this call for greater international collaboration and political commitment to halt deforestation and restore ecosystems.
Key partners, such as AFoCO’s Vice Executive Director, Mr. Sunpil Jin, contributed to this vital dialogue. Mr. Jin highlighted AFoCO’s dedication to sustainable forest management and its commitment to supporting global forest initiatives. He reaffirmed AFoCO’s mission of fostering international partnerships and advancing sustainable forest practices as essential for achieving climate resilience and supporting global climate goals.
At the CSDLAP side event, Mr. Sunpil Jin represented AFoCO with a presentation on “Forest-Based Climate Action for Achieving NDCs through Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement”. His presentation outlined AFoCO’s strategic use of REDD+ mechanisms and voluntary cooperation under Article 6.2 to support member countries in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The discussion emphasized integrating forest conservation and carbon market strategies to create scalable, impactful solutions that benefit both ecosystems and local communities.
Panelist at the KoFPI Side Event: The Role of the Korean Carbon Market for Increasing Forest Carbon Sinks
During the side event hosted by the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KoFPI), AFoCO’s Carbon Project Team Leader, Mr. Sungho Choi, joined as a panelist. At the KoFPI side event, Mr. Sungho Choi, Team Leader of AFoCO’s Carbon Project Team, outlined key trends in Asia’s carbon market. He noted that 11 AFoCO member countries are advancing their NDCs with active participation in REDD+ and sustainable forest management initiatives, as highlighted in the UNFCCC’s 2023 report. Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia lead in voluntary carbon market (VCM) efforts, with Cambodia engaging in transactions and project development. He also introduced AFoCO’s carbon initiatives, including the REDD+ project in Cambodia under Verra standards and collaborations with Rabobank and Climate Asset Management in several countries focusing on agroforestry and afforestation.
Panelist at the Royal Forestry Department of Thailand Side Event: “Forest Innovation for Sustainable Solutions for a Green World”
Mr. Sungho Choi also contributed as a panelist at the Royal Forestry Department of Thailand’s side event titled “Forest Innovation for Sustainable Solutions for a Green World.” Here, he presented AFoCO’s vision for a resilient, greener Asia and outlined the Strategic Plan (2024-2030) and Climate Action Plan (2025-2034). He highlighted AFoCO’s three-phase Climate Forest Cooperation Framework, promoting readiness, in-forest actions, and scaling up. This framework aligns with SDG contributions and climate goals, emphasizing valuation and integration. AFoCO’s regional forest disaster management projects, supported by the ASEAN-Korea and Mekong-Korea Cooperation Funds, showcase the use of ICT for efficient forest management. Mr. Choi emphasized leveraging Korea’s ICT expertise to develop a knowledge management system for optimized data use and strategic decision-making.
AFoCO Side Event at the Forest Pavilion: “Advancing Forest Policies for NDC Achievement and Carbon Market Access through International Cooperation”
AFoCO’s own side event at COP29 focused on “Advancing Forest Policies for NDC Achievement and Carbon Market Access through International Cooperation.” This session brought attention to the significance of effective policy frameworks, robust MRV systems, and capacity-building initiatives to integrate forest-based projects into national and international climate strategies. Presenters shared key insights and best practices that align with global carbon market developments, supporting long-term and measurable outcomes in forest conservation.
MoU Signing with Gold Standards Foundation
AFoCO’s collaborative efforts at COP29 also highlighted its partnership with Gold Standard, aimed at enhancing the Gold Standard’s certification processes and capacity building in carbon finance. This partnership is designed to support AFoCO member countries in aligning their forest projects with global standards and exploring broader cooperative opportunities for sustainable development.
Expanding Networks and Building Partnerships
Beyond participating in these significant sessions and MoU ceremony, AFoCO engaged in multiple events hosted by member countries and conducted numerous meetings to strengthen collaborative efforts. These networking activities underscored AFoCO’s commitment to fostering partnerships, advancing forest cooperation, and promoting a cohesive, sustainable approach to global climate action.
Submitted by CHA Minkyu, Carbon Projects Team
