Publication - 23 November, 2009
Forest destruction accounts for about a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the world’s trains, planes and cars put together; world leaders must agree a robust plan to end global deforestation before 2020.
Executive summary: Destruction and degradation of forests drives climate change in two ways. First, the clearing and burning of forests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and second, the area of forest that absorbs carbon dioxide is reduced. Their role in regulating the climate is so crucial that if we destroy the last tropical forests, we will likely lose the battle against climate change.
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Number of pages: 8