A race against time and against ourselves. Against the dangerous idea that we can’t do this, that there is no way.
Unlike most races, it won’t have one winner. In this race we all win, or we all lose. Winning it requires a radical, unprecedented level of collaboration, from all corners of our world. From our cities, businesses, regions and investors. From people everywhere.
Together we’re racing for a better world. A zero carbon and resilient world. A healthier, safer, fairer world. A world of wellbeing, abundance and joy, where the air is fresher, our jobs are well-paid and dignified, and our future is clear.
To get there we need to run fast, and get faster. We need more and more people to join the race, and right now. This is not about 2050, it’s about today.
Together, we can do this. And we’re already on our way.
Deforestation sits at the intersection of climate and nature: net-zero targets will be out of reach unless deforestation is urgently halted and reversed.
Tackling deforestation represents a key opportunity for the financial sector to advance toward net zero, reduce risk, and boost resilience.
1.5°C: to keep the chance of 1.5°C alive, the majority of commodity-driven deforestation needs to be halted by 2025 and land-use “conversion” eliminated by 2030.
60%:of total deforestation is caused by agricultural commodities production, which predominantly occurs in the operations and supply chains of major FLAG (forestry, land use, and agriculture) companies.
Investments in high-integrity nature-based solutions will help meet the climate, nature, and land-neutrality targets.
One-third of climate mitigation solution: Nature provides enhanced resilience and one-third of the mitigation solution to achieve a 1.5°C pathway.
USD$4.5 trillion: could be generated annually by developing and implementing solutions for a resilient, net-zero, nature-positive agricultural system by 2030.
COP28 set a precedent for the integration of nature in addressing climate change, including food systems, offering a roadmap for the journey ahead. Nature was placed at the heart of the UAE consensus with a strong call for zero deforestation by 2030 and alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
By tackling deforestation risks and boosting investments in nature-based solutions, the finance sector can amplify the investor voice alongside other stakeholders who have laid a strong foundation for global efforts toward a thriving, net-zero, and nature-positive future.
Launched at COP26, the Finance Sector Deforestation Action (FSDA) brings together more than 30 financial institutions that have committed to using best efforts to end commodity-driven deforestation in their investment and lending portfolios.
Deforestation Disclosure Guide for Financial Institutions: This guide is aimed at financial institutions (FIs) and practitioners involved in assessing and managing climate- and nature-related risks, particularly deforestation and land-use change, for financial disclosure at both entity and division levels.
Deforestation-free Transition (DEFT) Pathway: This pathway supports financial institutions in better engaging with companies on deforestation as part of climate and nature transition frameworks.
WBCSD Guidance offers valuable guidance and a call to action, highlighting the pressing need and practical ways for financial institutions to assess and disclose their exposure to deforestation risks.
Navigating a new moment for investors on nature – Nature risks are now too big to ignore. In the run-up to COP30, a group of nature-related investor stewardship initiatives and some of the world’s largest investors have come together to produce a briefing pack to help investors navigate this new moment on nature.
Isobel Mitchell, a Responsible Investment Analyst at the Church Commissioners for England, explains why tackling deforestation is not just an environmental imperative but a critical component of their strategy to achieve net zero and safeguard biodiversity.
Aviva, a member of the Finance Sector Deforestation Action (FSDA) and Race to Zero, explains why ending deforestation is a pre-requisite for both reversing biodiversity loss and meeting net zero targets.