Climate change and the forest sector

Climate change presents the world with a daunting problem. Science shows that humans are causing a major change in world climates. The economic and ecological stakes are high. In an ideal world, mature science would guide policy and legal reform. In the real world, it is not always possible to have the luxury of certainity and the comfort of strictly rational decisions based on scientific insight. Responding to the challenge will require pioneering efforts in science, politics, pollution control, forests management and law. This publication examines the development of international law on climate change, such as the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, and discusses issues that national and subnational legislative bodies may have to coinsider regarding climate change mitigation and forests.