At COP26, over 100 countries pledge to end deforestation

By FRANK JORDANS and JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change. Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. But campaigners say they need to see the detail — such promises have been made, and broken, before. The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the world’s forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan, which is backed by countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States.