GCF

ABOUT GCF

What is the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF)?

The GCF is a unique multi-jurisdictional collaborative effort between 16 states and provinces from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, and the U.S. focused on the development of rules and capabilities necessary to generate compliance-grade assets from Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

The GCF grew out of November 2008 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed at the First Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles with the aim of sharing experiences and best practices, building capacity, and developing recommendations for policymakers and regulatory authorities considering ways to integrate REDD and other forest carbon activities into emerging greenhouse gas (GHG) compliance systems.

With support from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Climateworks, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the GCF has made significant progress in developing subnational REDD+ frameworks, exploring opportunities for REDD+ finance, and engaging with stakeholders to develop workable and equitable solutions for reducing deforestation.

The GCF’s guiding document (GCF Joint Action Plan) and associated materials can be found here

Why Does the GCF Matter?

The GCF states and provinces encompass more than 20% of world’s tropical forests.

The GCF includes key U.S. states that are at the vanguard of subnational GHG compliance systems in the U.S., including California.

The GCF’s collective efforts are the first at any level of governance to move into the “proof of concept” stage in the effort to bring REDD into existing and emerging GHG compliance systems and markets.

The GCF is developing concrete recommendations for policymakers and regulatory authorities in the U.S. and elsewhere for incorporating REDD and sequestrations from other forest carbon activities into emerging GHG compliance systems.

The GCF has emerged as a focal point for efforts around the world to bring subnational REDD efforts into ongoing national and international policy discussions and development.

GCF MEMBERS