Inspiring subnational action for climate and forests since 2008.
The GCF Task Force was created to respond to the fundamental problems of tropical deforestation and climate change—and the corresponding complexities of ecological disruption, biodiversity loss, food, energy, and water insecurity, and rural poverty.
In 2008, Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, convened nine other governors from Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States to address a common problem—global climate change. This small group of governors—key leaders with political power across entire states and provinces—knew they were stronger together. They recognized that curbing tropical deforestation was a critical element of their broader efforts to address climate change, and they assembled to lean on and learn from one another as they worked to advance strategies in their states and provinces. In 2008, this small coalition signed landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on climate and forests cooperation—and the GCF Task Force was born.
Since our first Annual Meeting in 2009, we have more than quadrupled our membership—growing from 10 states and provinces in three countries to 54 jurisdictions in 11 countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Spain, and the United States). Today, the GCF Task Force includes the entire Brazilian Amazon, 85 percent of the Peruvian Amazon, 75 percent of Bolivia’s tropical forests, 65 percent of Mexico’s tropical forests, and 60 percent of Indonesia’s forests.
