By Susanna Tol, from the UN Climate Summit in Durban

Wetlands International is in Durban to advocate for emissions reductions through the conservation of undisturbed peatlands as well as the rewetting of drained peat areas. Unfortunately, the negotiations on the rules for emissions reductions from land use that causes peatland drainage, such as forestry and cropland management under the follow up of the Kyoto Protocol, is not looking positive at this point. Strongly supported proposals on the table would allow countries to hide emissions from logging and only include voluntary accounting for emissions from other land uses that result in emissions. This includes the drainage of peat soils. Wetlands International campaigns for all significant sources of emissions to be mandatorily accounted for in the land use sector and no logging loopholes; therewith creating incentives to reduce emissions. For full blog post, click here.