What is REDD+?

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is an initiative developed under the united Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address deforestation and forest degradation. The ‘+’ sign representes the inclusion of further measures taken like conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks to maximize impact. The REDD+ mechanism creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by incentivizing developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.

Developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions. REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks" (UN-REDD, 2020). 

Protect carbon sinks: the emergence of REDD+ projects

Beyond being a symbol, forests are, first and foremost, carbon sinks, as they allow massive sequestration of greenhouse gases. "Global forests play a major role in regulating the carbon cycle and atmospheric CO₂ concentration. They contain 53% of the carbon accumulated in terrestrial ecosystems" (Boulier & Laurent, 2010). Their disappearance is detrimental.

These carbon sinks will decrease their carbon-sequestration potential, further aggravating pre-existing global warming and accentuating the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity decline. In other words, the fight against global warming can only be achieved by protecting forests.

This pragmatic approach makes it possible to understand the context in which REDD+ projects began to emerge. REDD+ projects are historically located in the "Global South." The underlying idea is linked to the historical role that Northern countries have played in anthropogenic emissions since the industrial revolution and the fact that they are mainly responsible for the current situation.

Nevertheless, the development of the Southern economies would increase the rate of carbon present in the atmosphere tenfold and significantly affect the global community. Therefore, the voluntary carbon market and the creation of REDD+ projects appeared as a solution to provide financing to Southern countries to preserve carbon sinks that these countries' significant economic development could threaten. 

While these projects have emerged to protect existing carbon sinks represented by forests, they also have a social and economic dimension. Indeed, they have multiple impacts on local communities that meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Various standards are emerging to label and estimate the positive impact of these projects on local communities. Recognizing the increased awareness at the global and national levels of the need for effective social and environmental safeguards (SES), the REDD+ SES initiative aims to define and support higher-level social and environmental performance for REDD+ programs" (REDD+ SES, 2012).

REDD+ projects have high co-benefits on biodiversity and local communities

In addition to carbon avoidance, REDD+ projects have an important impact on biodiversity, by protecting endangered species. 

REDD+ projects are essential in the fight against global warming and in protecting existing natural carbon sinks. At ClimateSeed, we are well aware of the potential to contribute to high-quality REDD+ projects that preserve ecosystems and endangered species, improve local populations' economic and social conditions, and store a large amount of carbon. 

ClimateSeed's approach: carbon expertise and technological solutions for a detailed analysis of projects 

What is ClimateSeed's approach to REDD+ projects? ClimateSeed has chosen to integrate REDD+ projects into its portfolio of projects. Project developers submit their projects to our three strict selection levels.

The first level proposes a project certified by a major international standard (such as VCS or Gold Standard). As we have seen, these organizations certify projects, estimate, and issue carbon credits that can be sold on the voluntary carbon market for a specific period. In addition to this carbon dimension, they also make it possible to estimate the co-benefits associated with the project, whether economic, social, or environmental. There is also additional certification from the CCBA, which conducts a more in-depth analysis of the environmental impact on local ecosystems. 

The second step that ClimateSeed applies to projects is a practice inherited from the banking world: KYC-AML due diligence (Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering). The objective is to learn more about the project developer, the local actors, the actual beneficiaries, the shareholder structure, and the financial arrangements. This practice ensures that the financial contributions obtained in exchange for the credits are indeed intended for the project's development and that the money received is not used for terrorism or money laundering.

This second filter is essential because it avoids collaboration with fraudulent project developers, whose financial revenues would not be used for the desired purposes. 

The third step consists of an internal Project Evaluation Framework to assess and validate all projects that are added to ClimateSeed’s project portfolio. 

The goal of the Project Evaluation Framework is not to score and compare projects based on a final score, such as rating agencies do, but rather to carry out a robust assessment that highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each project. 

This multi-step approach is essential to ensure projects' high quality and relevance. ClimateSeed thus makes it possible to work with REDD+ project developers who have proven their effectiveness. 

ClimateSeed's mission is to have the best possible environmental, social, and economic impact. In this sense, by their specificity and attractiveness, REDD+ projects have their place in achieving this mission.