Taking Action to Halt Tropical Deforestation With The LEAF Coalition - Corporate Perspectives
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Taking Action to Halt Tropical Deforestation With The LEAF Coalition - Corporate Perspectives
The LEAF Coalition, LEAF has already created one of the biggest demand signals - more than $1 billion so far - for emissions
reductions generated through large-scale forest protection efforts at the national or sub-national level ‑
known as the jurisdictional approach. With support to date from three donor governments (Norway, UK and
launched during US) and over 20 global corporations from a range of sectors and industries, LEAF is expected to become
one of the largest ever public-private efforts to end deforestation.
the Leaders The LEAF approach brings a number of innovations. These include:
Summit on Climate ⦁ Adoption of the ART/TREES
standard for jurisdictional
commit to science-based
targets, set 2050 net-zero
⦁ Floor price guarantee
supported by sovereign
in April 2021, is REDD+ emissions reductions,
ensuring the highest levels of
targets across scope 1, 2 and
3, and join the UN Race to Zero
participants.
an initiative that integrity and transparency
⦁ Stringent demand-side criteria
⦁ Clear rules that require
purchasers to publicly disclose
aims to accelerate for LEAF corporate participants,
including the need to publicly
how credits are used and that
limit the resale of credits
climate action by
About This Report
providing results- Emergent acts as the administrative coordinator of the LEAF
based finance to Coalition. We recently asked a group of LEAF Coalition corporate
participants what motivated them to join. Five key themes emerged
countries committed in their responses, highlighting both core shared values, as well
to protecting their as a variety of perspectives on how LEAF specifically supports
corporate climate and nature action.
tropical forests.
2
BCG E.ON Unilever
“ The world’s forests – which today cover
30% of the earth’s land surface – are an
“ E.ON acknowledges that there is no 1.5°C
path without halting deforestation. Within
“ Ending tropical deforestation by 2030
is a crucial part of meeting global climate,
incredibly valuable resource, storing carbon, our own operations, we already committed biodiversity and sustainable development
1/Taking
purifying water and air and safeguarding to protecting European forests. As one of goals. Protecting tropical forests offers one
biodiversity. Our research at BCG estimates Europe’s largest operators of electricity of the biggest opportunities for climate
that the total value of the world’s forests distribution networks, we’re going to create action in the coming decade. The motivation
is as much as 150 trillion US dollars, the valuable biotopes under 13,000 kilometers of behind LEAF, which Unilever is aligned to,
climate action majority of that value coming from forests’
ability to regulate the climate. Achieving net
zero globally hinges on our ability to protect
our high-voltage lines in forested areas. That’s
an area the size of 100,000 football pitches.
Ecological powerline corridor management
is to raise global climate ambition and
contribute to tropical forest protection.
Thomas Lingard, Global Sustainability Director –
by protecting this vital resource. Not only is this crucial for
our climate, protecting the world’s forests is
essential to preserving biodiversity and the
will make an important contribution to
healthier ecosystems and greater biodiversity
throughout Europe. However, protecting
Climate and Environment
tropical forests
ecosystems we all ultimately depend upon. tropical forests is – at least - evenly important.
Jesper Nielsen, Managing Director & Senior David Radermacher, Vice President
Partner, Global Leader, Sustainable Finance Sustainability and Climate
and Carbon Markets
Airbnb
Tropical forests around the world are under threat. “ Tropical rainforests hold 250 billion tonnes
of carbon, a third of the world’s remaining 1.5°C
The world lost nearly 4 million hectares of primary carbon budget, according to LEAF. Saving them
tropical forest in 2021, an area roughly the size McKinsey is vital in the efforts to tackle climate change.
of Switzerland1. Ending tropical and subtropical & Company SAP Ameet Konkar, Head of Sustainability
forest loss this decade is a crucial part of meeting
“ Our research shows that achieving a
1.5°C pathway would require nearly halting
“ As SAP accelerates its transformation
to a net-zero company, new approaches to
global climate, biodiversity and sustainable deforestation by the end of this decade. avoid, reduce, and compensate greenhouse
development goals. One of the main reasons why In fact, while forests have tremendous gas emissions must be embraced. The
potential to sequester carbon, deforestation LEAF Coalition aims to finance large-scale
corporations joined the LEAF Coalition was to is currently among the largest drivers of tropical forest protection, which can
protect tropical forests, recognizing this as one of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why we contribute to SAP’s efforts to meet its 1.5°C Amazon
“
became an initial participant in the LEAF science-based target, protecting crucial
the biggest opportunities for climate action in the We believe that working together
Coalition, which aims to become one of the forest ecosystems and creating positive
with the LEAF Coalition can mobilize the
coming decade. largest ever public-private efforts to protect environmental, economic, and social impact
funds needed to combat deforestation at
tropical forests. worldwide. We are committed to being part
a large scale by supporting government
Jop Weterings, Expert Associate Partner,
of the solution to climate change.
policies, which are crucial for sustaining
Sustainability Luka Mucic, CFO and member of the long-term reduction in deforestation.
Executive Board
James Mulligan, Senior Scientist
1. University of Maryland/Global Forest Watch
3
BCG E.ON Amazon
“ We believe that solving the most
complex climate and sustainability
“ At E.ON we are convinced that we need
to bring powerful actors across various
“ Amazon supported the creation of the
LEAF Coalition in order to bring together
challenges requires cross-sector industries together to facilitate sustainable companies and countries to galvanize funds
2/Driving change
collaboration. By unleashing both private change. This is why we support the to support high quality carbon offsets in
and public finance, while deploying the participative approach of the LEAF Coalition. tropical countries. Working together we are
authority of governments to regulate We set the guardrails for large-scale forest able to send a signal to the market of the
at scale with
and enforce land use, the jurisdictional protection and impact project quality demand for these offsets and support a new
approach proposed by LEAF can help together with many other public sector phase of the voluntary market.
achieve large-scale and long-lasting corporations. Thus, we contribute with James Mulligan, Senior Scientist
forest protection by directly addressing combined force to higher standards in the
collective action the fundamental drivers of tropical
deforestation.
Jesper Nielsen, Managing Director & Senior
offset market. The vital exchange with other
LEAF members also brings additional value
for our own sustainability approach.
Partner, Global Leader, Sustainable Finance David Radermacher, Vice President
and Carbon Markets Sustainability and Climate
LEAF brings together the private sector and
governments to provide finance for tropical and
subtropical forest conservation commensurate
with the scale of the climate change challenge. It McKinsey
comprises three national governments and more Salesforce Bayer & Company
than 20 corporate participants with the prospect
of many more to come. For many corporations, the “ At Salesforce we are committed to using
our full power for the planet. But we can do
“ The climate emergency we are
facing calls for a different mindset, new
“ We work side by side with the
governments of Norway, the UK and the
opportunity to come together to drive action at so much more together. Trusted collaboration collaborations and bold action. In this spirit, United States as well as a number of
is going to be critical if we’re to succeed Bayer proudly joined the LEAF Coalition as a leading private sector companies and we
scale was an important factor. in meeting the urgency of the intertwined founding member in April 2021. invite all of our clients to join us.
climate and biodiversity emergencies. Werner Baumann, CEO Jop Weterings, Expert Associate Partner,
Tim Christophersen, VP of Climate Action Sustainability
4
Amazon E.ON
“ Across all of our investments in nature-
based solutions, Amazon aims to increase
“ E.ON strongly supports the approach
of jurisdictional emission reduction
the quality and supply of high-integrity programmes. We believe that especially
3/Investing in high-quality
carbon credits. We are seeking to catalyze government-led, large-scale initiatives
a sea change in the environmental integrity can initiate long-term political change
of the voluntary carbon market by taking a towards forest protection. Projects on a
emissions reductions
principled and innovative approach in our jurisdictional level pave the way towards
carbon credit investments, sending a clear unification of standards in project
demand signal to the market for high-quality reporting, baseline setting and emission
credits; while helping and encouraging other reduction calculation.
from jurisdictional companies to join us. We also seek to partner
with jurisdictions that are committed to full
and effective participation by stakeholders,
David Radermacher, Vice President
Sustainability and Climate
programmes
especially Indigenous peoples and local
communities, and respect for their rights.
James Mulligan, Senior Scientist
Jurisdictional-scale programmes offer some of the strongest assurances
of environmental and social integrity, especially because they require BCG
accounting for the actions of all the actors across a jurisdiction. Many
corporations who joined LEAF recognize that this approach addresses
“ The jurisdictional approach promises
to mitigate key challenges to the integrity
of forest based carbon crediting such as
crucial issues such as additionality, leakage and reversals, contributing leakage and inaccurate baselining that can
to the quality and integrity of emissions reductions. Focusing at the sometimes be encountered with project-
based REDD+.
jurisdictional level was also viewed as having the potential to drive broad- Jesper Nielsen, Managing Director & Senior
reaching policy changes that can benefit Indigenous Peoples and local Partner, Global Leader, Sustainable Finance
and Carbon Markets
communities and address the underlying incentives behind deforestation.
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Walmart
Bayer Foundation E.ON
“ Bayer aims to achieve climate
neutrality at all its own sites by 2030. To
“ The LEAF Coalition’s focus on protecting
tropical forests aligns with our commitment
“ As an exclusive corporate partner of
UNEP‘s decade on ecosystem restoration,
attain that target, we intend to reduce by to regeneration and Walmart and the joining LEAF is also part of our agenda to
4/Supporting
the end of 2029 our own emissions by 42% Walmart Foundation’s goal to help protect, protect ecosystems such as the ecological
relative to the reference year of 2019. The restore or more sustainably manage 50 corridor management under our high-
remaining emissions will be offset. For us, million acres of land, and one million square voltage lines in forested areas. Within our
nature and
it is important that these projects have a miles of ocean by 2030. The LEAF model sustainability strategy, we also prioritize
connection to nature. Here as well, we have helps bring investment in conservation and rights of local people. This goes for the
established specific criteria for our own restoration activities at the jurisdictional people along E.ON’s supply chain as well as
procurement of certificates from climate level to scale – and enables nature-positive for supporting social value creation within
people goals protection projects. In this process, we
focus on nature-based climate solutions,
preferably concerning forestry and
practices as a result.
Julie Gehrki, Vice President
emission reduction projects. We therefore
support the focus of the ART TREES
standard on social safeguards.
agriculture projects. David Radermacher, Vice President
Helga Flores Trejo, VP, Sustainability and Climate
Head International Public Policy
McKinsey
Tropical forests are home to around 80% of the
Airbnb & Company GSK
world’s documented species, they drive numerous
Earth systems, such as rainfall patterns, provide “ We will invest in high-quality nature-
based offsets that protect the natural
“ The Coalition works with a rigorous
methodology, including strong social
“ We believe the LEAF Coalition offers
an effective and credible mechanism
clean air and water, directly support millions of world and the communities that rely on it, safeguards to protect the rights of to have real and systemic impact on
including as part of our participation in the Indigenous People and local communities. climate, nature and health.
people, including Indigenous People and local LEAF Coalition. Jop Weterings, Expert Associate Partner, Adele Cheli, Partnerships & Strategy
communities, and provide the genetic material for Ameet Konkar, Head of Sustainability Sustainability Director, Environmental Sustainability
many modern medicines. Many LEAF companies
view these benefits as an opportunity to go
‘beyond carbon’ and contribute to wider goals.
6
Bayer
“ Within the framework of its activities
to protect the forests, Bayer is a participant
in the LEAF Coalition. LEAF mobilized more
5/Achieving
than US$1 billion in 2021 to initiate the
biggest public–private effort to protect the
rainforests. We clearly advocate enforcement
synergies with
of the corresponding laws to protect the
Amazon rainforest. That also includes driving
forward the sustainable intensification
of agriculture in Brazil to prevent further
deforestation-free deforestation. Certificates from activities
undertaken in connection with LEAF are
expected to be part of our credits portfolio
commitments
beginning in 2023.
Matthias Berninger EVP, Head Public Affairs,
Science, Sustainability & HSE
Unilever
“ For nearly two decades, Unilever
has been involved in industry efforts to
eliminate deforestation from commodity
A number of LEAF members have been working supply chains. We have learned that
to eradicate deforestation from their supply individual actions alone – however bold –
will never drive system change. Collective
chains for many years. By tackling the causes
action is needed for real impact. The launch
of deforestation at scale via the jurisdictional of the LEAF Coalition today provides fresh
hope that we can end deforestation at scale
approach, the LEAF Coalition supports these
and get the world on track for the 1.5°C goal
long-term efforts. of the Paris Agreement.
Thomas Lingard, Global Sustainability Director
– Climate and Environment
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Join us to halt tropical
deforestation
The $1 billion, mobilized by LEAF Coalition participants
in the first year alone, shows the growing sense of
commitment among corporations to taking additional
action outside their value chains to help protect the
world’s forests.
The feedback from corporations in this report illustrates
the wide variety of ways that protecting forests can
support different climate and sustainability strategies,
and we are confident that many more corporations will
join us in taking action in the coming months and years.
To find out how your business can join the fight to
end deforestation visit www.leafcoalition.org or
contact leafcompanies@emergentclimate.com
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