At COP28 earlier this month, the American Forest Foundation had the privilege of sharing our work with family forest owners to tackle climate change. Our team connected with project developers, companies, and governments from around the world and highlighted the impact American family forest owners are and can have on the environment.  

Across our many conversations at COP28, it was clear that nature is indispensable to avoiding climate catastrophe. Government leaders from Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry to EU President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed this. Natural climate solutions, along with reducing emissions and technological advances, must be maximized to keep our planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. And currently, the most viable option to maximize the climate potential of nature is through voluntary carbon markets. 

It also became clear that for the voluntary carbon market to truly succeed they must be designed for and with communities and smallholders. Here in the U.S., family-owned forests are key to unlocking the full potential of natural climate solutions. Making up the largest portion of forests in America, these lands have the potential to remove more than 1 billion tonnes of carbon by 2050. Family forest owners have long made vital contributions to our nation’s conservation efforts and if given the support to manage and care for their land, they can do even more for our planet.  

We left COP28 reminded that we have the tools to combat climate change and that all we need is resources and commitment. To build on the momentum from COP28 and maximize the impact of the carbon market will require collective action. It will require more family forest owners to enroll in carbon programs and join the fight against climate change. It will call for more companies to purchase and invest in high-quality carbon credits and do so at a larger scale. And it will necessitate government involvement to jumpstart both corporate and landowner participation. 

We’ve outlined our key takeaways from COP28 for forest owners, companies, and policymakers, and ways each group can take action. We hope you join us in harnessing the power of family forests and making 2024 a year of action in the fight against climate change.