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Global Leaders Pledge to Halt Deforestation by 2030 at COP26

**Subheadline:**
More than 100 countries commit to a landmark deal to stop and reverse deforestation within this decade at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference.

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**Article Body:**

In a significant step towards combating climate change, more than 100 countries have pledged to stop deforestation by 2030. The commitment was made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.

This collective decision marks a major turning point in the global fight against climate change. Deforestation is a leading contributor to global warming, accounting for nearly a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions. The new global commitment aims to halt and reverse deforestation within this decade, which could significantly reduce global carbon emissions.

Countries involved in the pledge include Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world, and Indonesia, which houses vast areas of tropical forest. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, and Russia, which also have substantial forest cover, are also part of the agreement. Notably, the signatories represent about 85% of the world’s forests.

At the center of this commitment is a pledge from world leaders to mobilize more than $19 billion in public and private funds to support forest protection efforts. This includes restoring degraded lands and transforming agricultural practices to reduce the pressure on forests.

The global pledge has been welcomed by environmental groups, but they also warn that the commitment needs to be backed up by actions. Past pledges to curb deforestation have seen limited success, with forest loss continuing at an alarming rate. According to the World Bank, between 1990 and 2016, the world lost 502,000 square miles of forest, an area larger than South Africa.

The COP26 deforestation pledge will also focus on the rights of indigenous people who play a crucial role in forest conservation. Many indigenous communities around the world are already on the frontline of the battle against deforestation, and their rights to the land, culture, and way of life need to be safeguarded.

Critics, however, warn that the commitment, while a crucial step forward, is still far from enough to counter the climate emergency. They argue that the 2030 target is not ambitious enough and that more immediate action is needed. In addition, the absence of several key countries, including Malaysia and Bolivia, which contain significant forest cover, from the pledge has raised concerns about its effectiveness.

The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, as the pledge is formally known, is one of many measures being discussed at COP26. The conference, which runs from October 31 to November 12, is seen as a critical opportunity for world leaders to commit to meaningful actions to combat climate change.

With the global commitment to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, the world takes a significant step towards mitigating the effects of climate change. However, the success of this commitment will ultimately depend on the actions taken in the coming years.

The COP26 conference will continue to be a crucial platform for discussions on climate change as global leaders, scientists, activists, and businesses come together to push for more ambitious actions to safeguard our planet’s future.

**Hashtags:** #COP26 #ClimateChange #Deforestation #GlobalPledge #ClimateAction