The facts are clear: We can’t slow climate change without stopping tropical deforestation. But we also can’t expect that tropical forest governments and forest communities can protect remaining forests without resources to support their efforts and provide for more sustainable economic development.

Seven Climate Pledge signatories— Amazon, PwC, McKinsey & Company, SAP, Landsec, Salesforce, and Unilever—are participating in the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, a public-private project that mobilized over $1 billion in corporate and government funds to protect tropical rainforests around the world. LEAF’s mission is simple: ensure “forests are worth more alive than dead.”

LEAF partners with corporations aiming to reduce their carbon footprints and provide financial support to communities working to slow deforestation, helping to foster strong partnerships between tropical forest governments and the indigenous people and local communities integral to protecting these ecosystems. 

In 2023, Costa Rica and Ghana were the first governments to reach Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreements with LEAF, marking a significant milestone in public-private efforts to reverse deforestation. These deals are worth nearly $60 million in credits, a critical step forward in protecting our planet’s forests.