UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the critical role forest ecosystems play in sustaining life on Earth.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation in Brazzaville, held under the auspices of the Republic of Congo with the support of the African Union, marked a significant step in global efforts to combat deforestation and promote sustainable development.
“I am deeply honored to be here today at the inaugural International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation,” began Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed. “We congratulate President Denis Sassou Nguesso for his visionary initiative launched in 2022 at the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el Sheikh. This gathering brings that ambitious vision to life.”
Mohammed highlighted the urgent need for decisive and collective actions to address global forest and biodiversity loss, advocating for a green and just transition that benefits all. “Our promises in the Paris Agreement are in crisis; the 1.5°C world we need is in the emergency room. Our ecosystems are being threatened,” she warned.
Forests, which cover nearly one-third of our planet, provide essential goods and services that support sustainable livelihoods, economic development, and human welfare. Mohammed underscored that these terrestrial ecosystems must be integral to multisectoral strategies at national, regional, and global levels.
“In green Brazzaville, we witness expansive forests and peatlands, vital rivers, and unique flora and fauna. The interconnections of this web of life involve a balanced interaction of traditional knowledge and customs of Indigenous and local communities,” she noted. However, she also stressed the significant pressures forests face from deforestation and degradation.
Balancing these pressures requires a robust enabling environment and a systemic approach to deliver socioeconomic transformative outcomes. Mohammed pointed to global frameworks like the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests as critical tools in these efforts.
Regional initiatives, such as the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, have elevated political attention through cross-country partnerships. “Yet, we must be clear — the message is not only to preserve the world we live in but to improve the lives of everyone,” she said.
As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mohammed emphasized the mission of a green economic transition that ensures the sustainable supply, security, and resilience of natural resources while creating jobs and opportunities for social and economic prosperity.
“This vision of forests — as a catalyzer of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) transitions — is embedded in SDG15 on life on land. Together with regulatory frameworks, strengthened institutions, pipelines of sustainable projects, and integrated financing strategies, we can chart the course for a new paradigm of global development and green investments,” she explained.
The African Union, under the leadership of Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and Commissioner Josefa Sacko, has transformed the new Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy and 10-Year Implementation Framework (2024-2034). This promotes regional integration, local ownership, and inclusive, people-centered approaches to restore landscapes and build resilience and jobs.
Mohammed also highlighted the importance of domestic resource mobilization and long-term international development finance in delivering impactful outcomes. She called for innovative mechanisms and financial instruments, such as payments for ecosystem services, carbon markets, and sovereign sustainable bonds, to ensure access to and benefit-sharing of investment returns.
“Carbon markets, for example, must ensure high integrity emission reductions, respecting the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous and local communities, while safeguarding biodiversity and guaranteeing permanence, accountability, and transparency,” she stated.
As the conference concluded, Mohammed urged participants to carry the momentum forward and ensure their voices are heard globally. She emphasized the critical role of the Congo, Amazon, and Borneo-Mekong basins as the lungs of the world, providing global stability and security while supporting indigenous communities and local economies.
Looking ahead, Mohammed noted the upcoming G20 meeting in Brazil and the thirtieth UN Climate Change Conference as pivotal opportunities to advance high-ambition, economy-wide nationally determined contributions and resource commitments.
“We need your continued global leadership to guide the green transition towards a new development model that drives progress for people and the planet,” she concluded.
