Over 100 world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change (COP26) conference pledged to cease and reverse deforestation by 2030. The funds contain about £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private contributions. Some will be used to aid in land restoration, wildfire suppression, and indigenous community support in underdeveloped countries. Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States, and the United Kingdom are among the signatories to the pledge. These countries cover around 85 percent of the world’s forests. The governments of 28 nations will also remove deforestation from the global trade of food and other agricultural products such as palm oil, soya, and cocoa. These industries contribute to forest loss by chopping down trees to make place for cattle or crops.

Experts praised the initiative but warned that a previous deal signed in 2014 “failed to slow deforestation at all,” and that results must be provided. There are also major issues regarding how a significant financial commitment can be properly monitored. “We’re facing a climate emergency so giving ourselves another 10 years to address this problem doesn’t quite seem consistent with that,” said Dr. Nigel Sizer, a former president of the Rainforest Alliance. “But maybe this is realistic and the best that they can achieve.”