Speaker (Speaker) opened in Belay with a stark warning about climate risk and pressed immediate action on forests, saying science still offers a path to keeping warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius but only with rapid steps to protect and restore ecosystems.

The speaker announced a new initiative for tropical forests and outlined concrete targets: halt deforestation by 2030, protect intact tropical and boreal forests and peatlands, end illegal logging, and eliminate deforestation from supply chains. "We must halt deforestation by 2030 to keep 1.5 degrees within reach," the speaker said.

The address also called for large-scale restoration of degraded lands using nature-based solutions. The speaker framed restoration as delivering multiple benefits: protecting watersheds, reducing disaster risk and creating green jobs.

The speech did not specify implementing authorities, funding sources, or which countries would lead the proposed initiative. It framed the measures as both a moral and legal responsibility and an economically prudent investment.