Beyond averting and mitigating negative impacts ('do no harm'), safeguards are powerful mechanisms for promoting environmental and social benefits, embodying a proactive 'do good' approach, essential for forest-related policies and projects. Social benefits include enhanced livelihoods, clarification of land tenure, and the empowerment of women and indigenous communities in decision-making processes. Likewise, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and bolstering environmental services represent key potential 'co-benefits' in the realm of environmental benefits.
The UNEP’s Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) Framework is formed by eight Safeguard Standards on aspects like biodiversity, climate change, pollution, health and safety, cultural heritage, indigenous peoples and others, backed as well by the guiding principles of ‘leaving no one behind’, human rights and gender equality, sustainability, resilience and accountability.
What we do
Safeguards are an integral part of the REDD+ framework, ensuring that efforts to reduce emissions and conserve forests are carried out responsibly, equitably, and sustainably. As countries ramp up their REDD+ activities, the need for a comprehensive approach to implementing safeguards becomes increasingly important. These safeguards are designed to prevent harm, promote benefits, and ensure that REDD+ interventions contribute positively to environmental objectives and human rights.
Through the UN-REDD Programme, UNEP provides vital support to governments in promoting the respect of rights by addressing and respecting safeguards. The work of UNEP encompasses:
- assessing the social and environmental benefits and risks of proposed REDD+ interventions; mainstreaming socio-economic benefits into integrated land-use planning;
- ensuring social and governance considerations are integrated into the design of funding mechanisms for sustainable landscapes;
- facilitating compliance with international safeguard requirements by advising on policies, laws, regulations, and institutional frameworks;and,
- ensuring the established guidance and tools to enable countries to adopt a robust and flexible approach to meeting the UNFCC's safeguards requirements, reflecting different national circumstances and facilitating access to REDD+ Results-based Payments.
Impact so far
Within the UN-REDD Programme, the impact of the work on UNEP in supporting countries to implement REDD+ safeguards is significant and widespread. A key achievement to date includes the development and implementation of National Safeguards Information Systems (SIS) in numerous countries. These systems are essential for tracking how safeguards are addressed and respected, providing a transparent and accountable framework for REDD+ implementation. By helping countries to establish and refine their SIS, UNEP has played a pivotal role in enhancing the global REDD+ landscape. These systems not only ensure compliance with international requirements, but also build confidence among stakeholders and donors in the integrity and effectiveness of REDD+ activities.
BeIn additionsides, UNEP is helping countries to develop and test innovative strategies to address the novel challenges for SIS posed by nested REDD+ approaches under development, with simultaneous REDD+ initiatives at different levels, with different approaches (result-based payment, carbon markets, etc.) and requirements, aimed at ensuring equitable rights, tangible benefits, and sustained emission reductions.
More information: the work of UN-REDD's on safeguards and multiple benefits.
