COP26: Over 100 countries promise to end deforestation by 2030

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II makes a video message to attendees of an evening reception to mark the opening day of the COP26 UN Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday, Nov 1, 2021. Photo: AP
More than 100 countries were set to pledge Tuesday to end deforestation, which scientists say is a major driver of climate change.
Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the UN climate conference in Glasgow. But campaigners say they need to see the detail — such promises have been made, and broken, before.
The UK 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.