Climate Policy

On a global scale, CI engages with international bodies that are working to make joint decisions and take action to fight climate change. Our climate policy team draws its members from 11 countries, including key climate players such as Brazil, Indonesia and the United States. The team leverages CI's field experience and scientific expertise to provide policy and technical advice to governments and delegations during and in preparation for UNFCCC processes.

CI is also working to provide input into dialogues that take place outside of the UN process but which provide important support for climate efforts and contribute to the development of international climate policy. We recently supported the efforts of Guyana, Liberia, Madagascar, Suriname, Costa Rica and Guatemala to be included in the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). These countries have since received financing to develop and begin implementing national plans to reduce deforestation.

IN DEPTH: REDD+

Other climate discussion groups that CI works with include the REDD+ Partnership, the UN's Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), the World Bank's Forest Investment Fund (FIP), The Forest Carbon Parnership (FCPF) and the Major Economies Forum.

Indigenous advisory group

We have recently formed an Indigenous Advisory Group to provide input into conservation and development policies and strategies, with an emphasis on REDD+ activities. This group is composed of invited indigenous leaders who are informed and knowledgeable on climate change policy issues, particularly REDD+.

The involvement of indigenous peoples in climate change policy-making and market development is essential to ensure that REDD+ and adaptation policies are designed and implemented effectively. CI supports the participation of indigenous leaders and representatives in international and national climate policy processes, and conducts capacity-building activities on climate policy, climate adaptation and REDD+.

The rights and concerns of indigenous peoples and local communities is an important theme that runs through all of CI's field demonstrations and national engagement. We were the first large conservation organization to adopt a policy statement on indigenous peoples, and today we are one of the only ones with an indigenous leader on our Board of Directors.