Part II Analysis of the Provisions of the Agreement, 10 Conserving and Enhancing Sinks and Reservoirs of Greenhouse Gases, including Forests (Article 5)

Subject(s):

Climate change — Treaties, amendments and modification — Treaties, application — Treaties, interpretation — General principles of international law

This chapter examines Article 5, which has been referred to as a ‘standalone’ article on forests, although it also points to sinks and reservoirs more generally. Article 5 operationalizes the inclusion of GHG sinks and reservoirs in the scope of the Paris Agreement. The agriculture, forestry, and other land use sectors (AFOLU) comprise about 24% of anthropogenic GHG emissions globally. The sector is unique, however, in that AFOLU activities can act as both sources and sinks of emissions. Given the science and the negotiation history surrounding forests and land use, this chapter builds on the context within which the inclusion of GHG sinks and reservoirs in the Paris Agreement resides.