COP30 ECO₂ International Conference Panel Q&A

Questions and Answers

Will people ever completely stop cutting down trees?

Deforestation is driven by ongoing demand for farming, grazing, timber and land use, and while efforts to stop it are progressing, there is still much to do. Ways in which people are trying to stop deforestation are by:

 

1. Protecting forests by law
Governments make special areas like national parks where people are not allowed to cut down trees. Laws help keep the forest safe.

2. Supporting Indigenous communities
Indigenous people have lived in forests for many years. Giving them the right to look after their land helps protect the trees and animals.

3. Planting and restoring trees
People plant new trees in areas where forests have been cut down. This helps the forest grow back.

4. Using careful farming
Farmers can grow crops without cutting down more forest. They can grow food on land that is already used or mix trees with crops.

5. Choosing products carefully
People can use less beef, soy, palm oil, and timber from forests that are cut down. Buying products that are certified as sustainable helps protect trees.

 

Young people can help by learning about trees and making sustainable choices, recycling paper, and taking part in tree planning days.

 

 

Can we plant too many trees?

Planting lots of trees sounds great, but if too many are planted in the wrong places, it can cause problems. Dark leaves can absorb more sunlight instead of reflecting it back into the sky. This can make the planet warmer and reduce some of the cooling benefits that trees usually provide.  It is also important to plant the right trees, as some trees do not benefit their local environment or promote biodiversity, but if you plant the right trees to restore species-rich forests, they can boost local biodiversity, as well as improving water availability.

 

Which country cuts the most trees down?

Brazil has often had the highest deforestation rates, losing about 1,695,700 hectares between 2015–2020. This is mainly due to having the largest tropical rainforest in the world – the Amazon Rainforest – and the country relies heavily on cattle farming and logging to make money for their economy – both of which require lots of trees to be cut down!

 

How many animals die each year because of deforestation?

Deforestation is causing an estimated loss of 137 species of plants, animals and insects every day. That’s 50,000 species a year!

 

How long does it take a deforested area to grow back?

Regrowth timelines vary: some tropical forest regrowth can occur in about 65 years, but for a forest to regrow back to its original environmental ecology may take many centuries (often centuries to millennia).

 

What are the main categories that COP30 is working on?

COP30 is all about helping people work together to look after our planet. It focuses on six main areas:

• Using cleaner energy and greener transport, like renewable energy and less polluting ways to travel
• Protecting nature, including forests, oceans, animals, and plants
• Growing and eating food in better ways that are good for people and the planet
• Making cities and towns stronger, so they can cope better with things like floods, heat, and water shortages
• Helping people and communities, making sure everyone can live healthy, safe lives
• Working together and sharing ideas, so countries can take action faster and make bigger changes

 

What does COP actually stand for and how many world leaders are there this year?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and this year’s event involved nearly 200 world leaders and about 30,000 delegates.

 

Is it good to plant a range of trees?

Yes, planting a mix of native trees has many benefits, including resilience to pollution, climate change, pests, and diseases. Different animals also like to live in different tree species, so the more tree types, the more different animals.

 

How many trees are cut down each year?

Around 15 billion trees are cut down globally each year.

 

How long have trees existed?

Trees first evolved around 400 million years ago, with forests appearing about 390 million years ago.

 

Which countries are battling climate change most effectively?

Denmark, Sweden, Chile, Morocco, and the European Union are leaders in tackling climate change most effectively. For example nearly half of Denmark’s electricity comes from wind turbines, and Chile is protecting and reforestings areas to capture carbon. Sweden also has one of the earliest net-zero emission targets in the world, aiming to have zero carbon emissions by 2045

These countries and the EU are considered global leaders because they are setting ambitious goals, using clean energy, and inspiring others to act.