Green Initiative for Riau (GREEN Riau)
Green Initiative for Riau (GREEN Riau) is an initiative of the Riau Provincial Government to manage forest- and peatland-based climate change mitigation, implemented inclusively and equitably to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen community resilience, and safeguard ecosystem sustainability. GREEN Riau positions Riau as a strategic subnational actor in climate change mitigation, given the significant contribution of the forestry and peatland sectors to regional emissions.
GREEN Riau was developed as a planned effort to access global climate finance through a jurisdictional REDD+ approach that provides incentives for emission reductions at the provincial level. This approach is implemented through strengthened forest and peatland governance, cross-sectoral policy integration, and active community engagement. Throughout this process, UNEP and FAO, with support from UK-FCDO, provide technical assistance to strengthen institutional readiness, the REDD+ framework, and credible, transparent, measurable, and accountable implementation mechanisms.
GREEN Riau is aligned with the FOLU Net Sink 2030 policy, which aims to balance Indonesia’s emissions with the carbon absorption capacity of forests and land. Through this policy, forests and peatlands are expected to absorb significant amounts of emissions each year.
With its extensive forests and peatlands, Riau plays an important role in Indonesia’s low-carbon development. Riau is therefore also positioned to receive results-based climate finance support through REDD+ schemes, in recognition of its achievements in forest conservation and emission reduction.
Implementation Phases of the GREEN for Riau Initiative (G4RI)
Preparation Phase
Strengthening the foundations of jurisdictional REDD+ through institutional strengthening, policy harmonization, and the development of emission monitoring systems, social and environmental safeguards, and inclusive benefit-sharing mechanisms.
Pre-Investment Phase
Implementing field-based mitigation actions to reduce emissions through sustainable forest, peatland, and land-use management, while supporting improved community well-being.
Performance-Based Payment Phase
Disbursing incentives based on verified performance or emission reduction results in a transparent, fair, and proportional manner to contributing stakeholders.
What is Jurisdictional Readiness?
Jurisdictional Readiness is an approach that prepares local governments and stakeholders to implement REDD+ effectively, enabling them to access performance-based climate finance and support the achievement of emission reduction targets at both provincial and national levels.
Institutions & Governance
GREEN for Riau applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving provincial and district/city governments, the private sector, academia, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and civil society organizations. The initiative is technically supported by the UN-REDD Programme, led by UNEP with support from FAO, to ensure alignment with national policies and international standards.
Strategic Approach
Landscape-scale forest conservation and protection.
Sustainable land and natural resource management.
Strengthened governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Access to high-integrity carbon and climate finance.
Long-Term Impact
GREEN for Riau aims to strengthen community climate resilience, particularly in peatland landscapes, while developing an innovative, credible, high-integrity jurisdictional REDD+ model that can be replicated at the national level and in other regions of Indonesia.
Further Information
For more information about GREEN for Riau, please download the brochures available in the Knowledge Management Centre (KMC).