About: deforestation

European forests cannot further curb global warming, French study warns

European countries should not heavily rely on their forests to curb climate change. However, they should instead ensure that forests are protected from climate change, underlined a study published in Nature on Wednesday (10 October). EURACTIV France reports.

Could EU-Indonesia free trade deal end palm oil conundrum?

As a new round of free trade negotiations between the European Union and Indonesia begins in Brussels, Perrine Fournier argues that improving forest governance should be central to any agreement.

‘Natural solutions’ in focus as EU hosts climate summit with China, Canada

The Nature4Climate Initiative is officially being launched in Brussels on Wednesday (20 June) by a coalition of conservation organisations, business groups, the UNDP and other major environmental NGOs.

Mercosur: Don’t sacrifice our food standards and tropical forests for trade

The trade agreement currently being negotiated by the EU and Morcosur will increase poverty and accelerate the demise of European farmers by subjecting them to unfair competition, argue Perrine Fournier and Yannick Jadot.

Ecolabels have lost all credibility, report claims

Lack of transparency, oversights, confusion… A report by the Dutch Foundation Changing Markets, published on 3 May, reveals the inefficiency of environmental labels, particularly for seafood, textiles and palm oil. EURACTIV's partner Le Journal de l'environnement reports.

Brazilian biofuel producers oppose further deforestation of the Amazon

The Brazilian Senate is considering lifting a ban on sugarcane production for ethanol fuel in the Amazon. The plan, supported by the country's president, has sparked protests from environmentalists and the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA.

Not enough done at EU level against imported deforestation

European imports of soy, cocoa and palm oil fuel deforestation in developing countries. The fight against the resulting collateral damage in Europe is complicated by agricultural interests.

Commission study shows path to end agricultural deforestation – now it must act

A new feasibility study on options to fight deforestation will be a litmus test for the European Union’s commitment to halt deforestation by 2020, writes Nicole Polsterer.

Forests are crucial in salvaging the Paris goals – EU must lead the way

In addition to halting deforestation, the European Union must support efforts to allow forest regeneration and sequestering more carbon dioxide, write Heidi Hautala and Carlos Zorrinho.

Halting deforestation – a critical contribution from the EU

Halting deforestation and allowing forests to regrow would provide at least 30% of all mitigation action needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C. As a major importer of products linked to deforestation, the EU has the leverage to make a difference, writes former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres.

Search for new urban water sparks conflict in parched Malawi

With increasingly prolonged droughts threatening worsening water shortages, Malawi is moving to shore up water supplies to its cities, including building new long-distance pipelines and dams.

Biomass policy under the spotlight as EU talks kick off

The European Union’s proposed new biomass policy has enough built-in safeguards to ensure it doesn’t lead to additional carbon emissions, an EU official told a EURACTIV event last week, amid warnings that the policy risks making global warming worse by increasing deforestation.

EU urged to do more to protect forests

Forest nations are calling on the EU to strengthen the control of supply chains for products causing deforestation such as palm oil or cocoa. EURACTIV.fr reports.

Ivory Coast cocoa sector hit by certification fraud

In the Ivory Coast a large proportion of cocoa comes from its protected forests. This illegally grown cocoa is then marketed by major chocolate manufacturers, with certification procedures having little impact on this illicit trade. EURACTIV.fr reports

Forests decimated by cocoa farming in Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire’s brown gold has gradually destroyed the country’s national parks and protected forests. At the same time, suspicions of corruption are tainting the authorities’ attempts to curb rampant deforestation.

EU heading for ‘zero palm oil’ in transport by 2021

Lawmakers are considering a complete phase out of palm oil in transport fuels by 2021 – a proposal which has garnered support from the biggest political groups in the European Parliament ahead of a key vote next week, EURACTIV can confirm.

EU must not burn the world’s forests for ‘renewable’ energy

A flaw in Europe’s clean energy plan allows fuel from felled trees to qualify as renewable energy when in fact this would accelerate climate change and devastate forests, warn a group of scientists from the world’s leading universities.

Figueres calls for EU action plan on ‘imported deforestation’

Former UN climate Chief Christiana Figueres, one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, has called on the European Union to step up regulatory action against deforestation in the global south by tackling emissions of imported agricultural goods, like beef, soy and palm oil.

Palm oil for fighter jets: Under EU attack, producers seek alternatives

Facing a backlash in Europe over palm oil's environmental toll, the world's top producers are scrambling to find new markets and even striking unusual barter deals, such as exchanging Sukhoi fighter-bombers for the edible oil.

New trade deals jeopardise EU green transport goals, NGO warns

Upcoming free trade deals with biofuel-producing countries in Asia and South America will undermine the European Union's goals to decarbonise the transport sector, an NGO has warned.

LULUCF: Will the EU turn the tide on forest growth and torpedo its bioeconomy agenda?

The European Commission’s proposal for Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) may well defeat its own purpose, writes Sylvain Lhôte.

Indonesia and Malaysia look to ‘kill’ Parliament’s palm oil ban

Indonesia and Malaysia said today (11 April) that they would send a joint mission to the EU aiming to prevent the implementation of a European Parliament call to phase out the use of biofuels based on vegetable oils by 2020.

Where are forests in Europe’s Sustainable Development Goals plans?

Forests are vital to achieving the SDGs and the aims of the Paris Agreement. Without action to protect forests, the problems posed by poverty and climate change will only get worse, writes Indra Van Gisbergen.

The EU’s dangerous biomass delusion

Bioenergy advocates claim that Europe’s forests are well managed and don’t contribute to global warming. Yet, biomass production in Europe is projected to rely more and more on materials that have a high risk of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, writes Linde Zuidema.