NEWS
Gabon is the first African country to get paid for reducing carbon emissions
Rosie Frost
Gabon has become the first country in Africa to get paid for reducing carbon emissions and forest degradation .
The € 14 million reward is based on an independent assessment of the country ’ s efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions in 2016 and 2017 .
These results-based payments are part of a breakthrough agreement between Gabon and the Central African Forest Initiative ( CAFI ). The 10-year deal , signed in 2019 , could see the country receive almost € 126 million if it meets its targets to further cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 .
CAFI was launched in 2015 by the United Nations and is backed by donors including the Norwegian government .
“ This is the first time an African country has been rewarded for reducing forestrelated emissions at the national level ,” says Sveinung Rotevatn , Norway ’ s Minister of Climate and Environment .
“ It is extremely important that Gabon has taken this first step . The country has demonstrated that with strong vision , dedication and drive , emissions reductions can be achieved in the Congo Basin forest .”
Gabon ’ s forests cover 88 per cent of the country and are home to unique wildlife including 60 per cent of the world ’ s remaining forest elephants . The trees absorb a total of 127 million tons of CO 2 every year , the equivalent of removing 30 million cars from the world ’ s roads .
To preserve its near-pristine rainforests , the country has created 13 national parks since the early 2000s . Since 1990 , deforestation rates have historically been low in its territories - less than 0.08 per cent .
This means that reducing carbon emissions by protecting forests is a difficult
Figure 1 . Gabon ' s rainforests absorb a total of 127 million tonnes of CO 2 every year . ( Copyright E . J . H . DAMAS )
Grassroots Vol 21 No 4 December 2021 16