Find below a list of important International and European laws related to Climate, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and Forest Conservation.
International Laws & Policies
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
It has been widely adopted, with 196 parties having signed it. However, there are a few countries that have either not signed or not ratified the agreement:
- Iran - Has not ratified the Paris Agreement.
- Eritrea - Has not signed the Paris Agreement.
- Libya - Has not ratified the Paris Agreement.
- Yemen - Has not ratified the Paris Agreement.
While the United States temporarily withdrew from the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration, it rejoined under President Biden in 2021.
These are the notable exceptions, with almost every other UN member state having signed and ratified the Paris Agreement.
For more information, visit: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement
The REDD+ Mechanism is a framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and promoting conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
It has been widely supported, but participation and implementation vary. For example:
- Brazil - Initially a strong supporter but faced challenges due to political changes and increased deforestation rates.
- Indonesia - Active participant but struggles with balancing economic development and forest conservation.
Despite these challenges, REDD+ remains a key mechanism for incentivizing forest conservation and reducing deforestation globally.
The REDD+ Mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was first introduced during the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP 11) in 2005 in Montreal. The concept evolved over the years, and the detailed framework was further developed and formalized in subsequent COP meetings, including key decisions at COP 13 in Bali (2007) and COP 19 in Warsaw (2013), where the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ was established.
For more information, visit: https://redd.unfccc.int/
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.
It has been widely adopted, with 192 parties having ratified it. However, some significant countries either did not sign or withdrew from the agreement:
- United States - Signed but did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
- Canada - Withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2011.
- Andorra - Has not signed the Kyoto Protocol.
- South Sudan - Has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
While the Kyoto Protocol set important precedents for climate action, its effectiveness was limited by the non-participation of some key countries. Nevertheless, it laid the groundwork for future agreements, including the Paris Agreement.
For more information, visit: https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multilateral treaty with the goal of conserving biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
It has been widely adopted, with 196 parties having ratified it. However, there are notable exceptions:
- United States - Has signed but not ratified the CBD.
- Andorra - Has not ratified the CBD.
- Holy See - Has not ratified the CBD.
Despite these exceptions, the CBD has been a pivotal framework for global biodiversity conservation, promoting sustainable practices and equitable sharing of genetic resource benefits.
For more information, visit: https://www.cbd.int
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty aimed at addressing climate change and limiting average global temperature increases.
It has been widely adopted, with 197 parties having ratified it. Only the Holy See has not ratified the UNFCCC.
While the UNFCCC laid the foundation for subsequent climate agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, its universal adoption underscores its importance in global climate governance.
For more information, visit: https://unfccc.int
CITES is an international agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
It has been widely adopted, with 183 parties, but enforcement varies:
- China - Significant progress but faces challenges due to high demand for wildlife products.
- Thailand - Active participant but struggles with illegal wildlife trade networks.
Despite these challenges, CITES is essential for regulating international wildlife trade and protecting endangered species.
For more information, visit: https://cites.org/
European Laws & Policies
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a legislative framework aimed at minimizing the EU’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation. Adopted in 2023, the EUDR prohibits the import of commodities and products linked to deforestation and forest degradation into the EU market. It requires companies to conduct due diligence to ensure that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation. The regulation covers a range of products, including soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, and coffee. By enforcing strict traceability and compliance measures, the EUDR aims to protect forests, uphold indigenous rights, and promote sustainable agricultural practices globally.
For more information, visit: https://green-business.ec.europa.eu/
The EU Climate Law sets binding targets for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
It has been adopted by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/european-climate-law
The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral by 2050.
It has been endorsed by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_6691
The LULUCF Regulation is European legislation on land use, land-use change, and forestry that integrates the sector into the EU's climate and energy framework. It aims to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use are accounted for in the EU's climate targets.
It has been adopted by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/land-use-sector
The EU Timber Regulation aims to stop the trade in illegally harvested timber and timber products in the EU. It requires operators to exercise due diligence when placing timber on the market.
It has been adopted by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/eu-rules-against-illegal-logging
The EU Forest Strategy is a comprehensive strategy to ensure sustainable forest management, improve the competitiveness of forest-based industries, and protect forests within the European Union.
It has been endorsed by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/
The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
For more information, visit: https://www.bonnchallenge.org/
The Natura 2000 Network is a network of protected areas across the EU aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats.
It has been established in all EU member states, but management effectiveness varies:
France - Effective management but faces pressures from agriculture and tourism.
Spain - Extensive network but struggles with adequate funding and management resources.
Despite these challenges, Natura 2000 is fundamental to the EU's biodiversity strategy and habitat conservation.
For more information, visit: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm
The EU Habitats Directive aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity by requiring member states to take measures to maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species.
It has been widely adopted across the European Union.
For more information, visit: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive
The EU Birds Directive protects all wild bird species naturally occurring in the EU, covering their habitats, their status, and their protection.
It has been adopted by all EU member states.
For more information, visit: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/birds-directive