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5h ago

U.N. Report Warns Northern Forests Near Carbon Tipping Point Ahead of COP30

UNECE says climate-driven disturbances are eroding the forests’ capacity to absorb CO2.

A view shows reddish fir trees that are dying due to prolonged droughts, leaving them exposed to pest infestations, above the village of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese region of Greece, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
Russia has more forest than any other country on Earth
Some 54 percent of the world’s forests are in only five countries
Boreal forests cover 9.3 percent of the planet's land surface

Overview

  • The five-yearly 2025 Forest Profile finds forests across Europe, North America, the Caucasus and Central Asia are slowing in CO2 uptake and could flip to net emitters if trends persist.
  • Data cited include 12.6 million hectares burned in 2021 and an estimated 73 million hectares damaged by insects and disease.
  • Europe’s forests absorbed nearly one-third less CO2 annually in 2020–22 than in 2010–14, according to an EU Joint Research Centre study referenced in the report.
  • Boreal forests, which contain about 32% of global terrestrial carbon stocks, are highlighted as highly vulnerable to warming, permafrost thaw and wildfires.
  • UNECE urges COP30 negotiators to prioritize forest resilience and finance, with Brazil expected to unveil a Tropical Forests Forever Fund to support countries that commit to protection.