From Cop26 in Glasgow comes a first glimmer of hope. On the afternoon of Monday 1 November, leaders from 100 governments, present at the twenty-sixth United Nations world climate conference, committed to halting the processes of deforestation and land degradation by 2030.

COP26 ✓ @COP26

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📢 NEWS: At COP26, over 100 leaders have committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

"To have any chance of keeping below 1.5°C of global warming, we must halt deforestation" -- Sir David Attenborough

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#COP26

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The 100 nations hold 85 per cent of Earth's forests

It is a significant commitment, not least because of the countries that have made it: the list includes the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. But above all Brazil, which is home to a large part of the Amazon rainforest, Canada (boreal forest) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (tropical forest). Together, the countries in question account for more than 85 per cent of the planet's forests.

Under the agreement, twelve nations in particular have also committed to jointly allocate 12 billion dollars in public funds between 2021 and 2025 for forest protection projects. These will need to be supplemented by a further 7.2 billion in private investment. In particular, 1.5 billion will be dedicated to protecting the Congo forest basin: an area of 3.7 million square kilometres spanning six African nations.

Financial commitments on deforestation also made at Cop26

At the same time, the chief executives and chairs of more than 30 financial institutions, representing a combined total of over 8,800 billion dollars in assets under management, will in turn commit to a series of activities linked to limiting deforestation.

According to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting Cop26, this is the "greatest step forward for the protection of the Earth's forests ever achieved in our generation". The agreement represents, the head of the London government added, "a chance to end the long history of humanity treating nature as something to plunder and begin a history of humanity as its custodian".

Greenpeace: "Green light for another decade of deforestation"

Non-governmental organisations take a different view, as in the case of Greenpeace, which considers the 2030 deadline "far too distant in time" and effectively gives the green light "for another decade" of deforestation. Carolina Pasquali, of Greenpeace Brazil, added that "indigenous peoples are calling for 80 per cent of the Amazon rainforest to be protected by 2025". The Coordinator of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (Coica) also stated that it will monitor whether the funds are actually allocated.

"We need to protect those parts of the Amazon that have not yet reached the tipping point – explained Leila Salazar-López, executive director of Amazon Watch –. The best way to achieve this is to ensure that indigenous rights are respected. What we need to do is protect 80 per cent of the Amazon by 2025."

The New York Times ✓ @nytimes

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Leaders of more than 100 countries, including Brazil, China and the U.S., vowed at #COP26 to end deforestation by 2030. The move seeks to preserve critical forests that can absorb carbon dioxide and slow the rise in global warming. nyti.ms/3GFjF1L

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What is indeed surprising is the approval granted by the Brazilian government of Jair Bolsonaro, who on numerous occasions has shown little inclination to defend the Amazon region. It is for this reason that close scrutiny will be needed over what is actually done between now and the stated date of 2030. The risk is that the decade may be seen as sufficient time to continue exploiting deforestation practices to the fullest. Moreover, it will be crucial to understand whether the commitment will truly be honoured by that date: all promises made in international forums are, after all, not legally binding.