FSC champions forest solutions, finance, and Indigenous leadership at Climate Week NYC

At Climate Week NYC, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) showed the power of collective efforts to place forests – and the people who care for them – at the centre of the climate conversation. 

FSC led and contributed to seven high-impact events at Nature4Climate’s Nature Hub and the World Climate and Biodiversity Summit, spotlighting forests as essential climate solutions and building momentum toward FSC’s UNFCCC COP 30 goals. 

Our delegation championed Indigenous-led funding models and showcased FSC Verified Impact and certification as part of corporate climate strategies. Throughout the week, FSC engaged with key partners and certificate holders, conducted media interviews, and reinforced its commitment to forest-based climate action and inclusive partnerships. 

These engagements unfolded against the backdrop of Brazil’s landmark announcement of a $1 billion USD contribution to the proposed $125 billion Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) – a Brazil-led initiative aimed at compensating countries for preserving tropical forests, with 20% of the funds earmarked for Indigenous Peoples. 

Learn the key themes that emerged from FSC’s participation in Climate Week NYC below. 

Real partnership with Indigenous Peoples 

Indigenous Peoples manage 28% of the global land surface, including 36% of the world’s intact forests and more than 80% of global biodiversity. Building genuine partnerships that shift resources, power, and decision-making toward Indigenous communities is essential for forest health, biodiversity preservation, and climate action.  

During Climate Week NYC, FSC, the FSC Indigenous Foundation, and partners showcased tools and funding models enabling Indigenous-led climate and nature solutions.  

“FSC certification bridges Indigenous and private sector engagement. Indigenous values and voices are part of the foundation of the certification,” said Minnie Degawan, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation and member of the Kankanaey-Igorot People in an event in the Nature Hub with Nia Tero, the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, Elatia, and Asociación Nacional de los Ejecutores de Contratos de Administración de las Reservas Comunales del Perú. 

The panel highlighted FSC Verified Impact – a system that enables businesses, governments, and forest managers to capture and disclose high-integrity forest data from FSC-certified forests and channels investments directly to communities driving forest stewardship. 

“Verified Impact joins Indigenous knowledge and customs with data and technology. It captures impact data on the health of Earth – the health of soil, water, air – as well as quantifiable data on the ecosystem services that it supports,” said Darwin Gudiel Velásquez, Finance and Administration at the FSC Indigenous Foundation and member of the Mayan People. 

Forest solutions to the climate crisis 

Forest certification can strengthen corporate climate strategies, supply chains, and brand trust. FSC’s forest management standards are aligned with climate-smart forestry principles, supporting climate mitigation and adaptation.  

“We're hearing from brands that FSC certification is a part of the answer. It ensures the integrity of these nature-based solutions and that you can validate what's being done on the ground without having to reinvent the wheel and make another due diligence system,” said Sarah Billing, President of FSC US at an event in the Nature Hub with Procter & Gamble, HP, and WWF. In another session, FSC Canada highlighted certification as a credible framework for linking forest management to adaptation and mitigation strategies in an event with IKEA, Suzano, and the Clean Air Task Force. 

Technological innovation can also support forest-based climate solutions. FSC Investments and Partnerships explored the intersection of technology and climate action with Salesforce, Slalom, and the UN University, discussing how AI and technology partnerships can support climate-positive initiatives while addressing the environmental costs of digital infrastructure – including FSC’s Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact project. 

Unlocking forest finance for climate 

In the search for systemic solutions to deforestation and climate change, climate and forest finance is crucial. Forests, when managed responsibly, are not only a natural climate solution, but an investible asset and crucial infrastructure in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Finance is needed to protect forests, and to secure an equitable distribution of that finance to local and Indigenous forest stewards. 

At the World Climate and Biodiversity Summit, Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of FSC, highlighted the finance disparity, “As we work to drive solutions, the biggest obstacle we have to overcome is finance. Last year, $2 million USD went into forest positive activities for sustainable forest management, while $365 billion – one billion for every day of the year – went into activities that put forests at risk.” 

FSC also hosted a high-level roundtable at the summit, bringing together 25 investors to explore forests as strategic assets and market opportunities. 

Looking toward COP 30 

FSC will build on the takeaways and partnerships from Climate Week NYC on the path to UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil this November. By scaling inclusive forest certification, Verified Impact, and partnerships that mobilize finance, FSC is helping shape a future where forests are recognized for their many values, including critical infrastructure in the global response to climate change.