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A Breakthrough in Forest Protection

Mobilizing high-integrity climate finance to protect the world’s tropical forests at scale

Accelerating Climate Finance to End Tropical Deforestation

Just one third of the world’s original tropical forests remains intact today. The rest is either severely degraded or gone completely.

As forests shrink, they shift from being powerful carbon sinks to major sources of emissions, with deforestation now accounting for 10–20% of the global total – more than any country except the United States or China. And five times greater than all international aviation. Forest loss also impacts the livelihoods of around 1.6 billion people worldwide and drives biodiversity loss, threatening many critically endangered species.

Halting and reversing tropical deforestation by 2030 is essential, if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and nature loss.

Emergent is a non-profit focused on mobilizing funding to support large-scale government led programs to halt tropical forest loss. These programs tackle the root causes of deforestation, while bringing lasting impacts and sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and forest communities.

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LEAF Coalition 

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Emergent is the coordinator of the LEAF Coalition, a unique public-private partnership bringing together forest governments, the private sector, donor governments, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and civil society to raise and deploy the finance needed to tackle deforestation at scale.

 

To date, LEAF has raised over $1 billion in public and private sector commitments and signed agreements with forest governments worth up to $300 million. 

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News & Updates

Catch up with the latest news, press coverage, and insights from Emergent and the LEAF Coalition.

 

Explore stories, announcements, and perspectives that highlight our work to scale high-integrity climate solutions and protect tropical forests.

GloboNews COP30: Pará advances jurisdictional REDD+ through its partnership with the LEAF Coalition
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Voices of the Forest: Afro-Ecuadorian, Indigenous, and Local Perspectives on forest protection
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Why Salesforce Joined the LEAF Coalition: Tim Christophersen, VP Climate Action
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Why Bayer Joined the LEAF Coalition: Matthias Berninger, EVP, Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability
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The Power of Forests to Protect the Planet: Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate
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JREDD & the LEAF Coalition: Former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry
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Voices and Views

Why Forests?

Impacts for Climate, People and Nature 

30%

Halting and reversing tropical deforestation could contribute up to 30% of required climate change mitigation.

FAO

3rd

If tropical deforestation were a country, it would be the world's third-highest emitter of CO₂, after the US and China.

WRI

1°C

Tropical forests are estimated to hold back more than 1 degree Celcius of atmospheric warming.

Woodwell Climate Research Center

80%

Tropical forests are home to over 80% of terrestrial species of animals, plants and fungi.

WWF

20%

Up to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions are driven by land use changes - principally deforestation.

Climate Funds Update

1.6B

1.6 billion people, including 70 million Indigenous Peoples, depend on forests for their livelihoods. 

WRI

Learn More About Our Work

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Corporates

Learn more about our work with corporate purchasers of high-integrity jurisdictional carbon credits

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Forest Governments

Learn more about our work with national and subnational tropical forest governments

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Forest Communities

Learn more about our work with Indigenous Peoples, local & Afrodescendant communities

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Support Our Work

Learn about the vital role of philanthropy in protecting tropical forests

Our Partners and Supporters

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Recent Events

Davos 2026 | From Climate Pledges to Leadership and Impact

Davos, January 2026

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, KPMG joined forces with buyer coalitions Symbiosis, Kinetic, and LEAF to explore how credible carbon markets can scale with speed and integrity.

Closing the Forest Funding Gap: Driving Real Impact for People, Climate & Nature

Climate Week NYC, September 2025

Emergent and the LEAF Coalition showed what we do best at New York Climate Week: bringing forest country leaders, Indigenous voices, corporates, donors, and civil society partners together to focus on what needs to be done to mobilize finance for large scale, government-led forest preservation programs, known as Jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) .

Emergent and LEAF at COP30: Growing Momentum for Forests

COP30, November 2025

Brazil placed forests at the centre of the global climate agenda by hosting COP30 in Belém. Here are the four global developments shaping forest action going into 2026:

Investing in Nature for the Future: The Business Case for Forests

London Climate Action Week, June 2025

At London Climate Action week Salesforce, the LEAF Coalition, Emergent, 1t.org, Symbiosis and the U.K. Government convened public, private, and grassroots leaders to share why investing in forests is not only a climate imperative - it’s smart business.

The role of JREDD in Supporting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Brazil

Webinar, October 2025

Join NCSA and Emergent to hear perspectives from Indigenous and local comminity leaders, government representatives and civil society to explore how Jurisdictional REDD+ can deliver large-scale forest protection in Brazil while ensuring IP&LC leadership, rights and livelihoods are at the center.

The Power of Forests to Protect the Planet

Webinar, April 2025

On the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, Emergent brought together corporate, community, and climate leaders for a virtual event spotlighting the urgent need, and business opportunity, to protect tropical forests. 

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Report a concern through our confidential, third-party Community Concern and Reporting hotline 

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