About: deforestation
How the EU could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on climate
The European Commission's commendable move to aim for emission reductions of "at least 55%" by 2030 risks being completely undermined if the target also takes into account “reductions and removals” from forest growth and tree planting schemes, warns Bert Metz.
The EU must face its responsibility for the Amazon fires
Only with a strong law can European consumers be confident that the production of the food they eat does not fuel the horrendous fires we witness every year in the Amazon, writes Ester Asin.
Brazil exports to EU produced on illegally cleared land: report
One fifth of beef and soybean exports from Brazil to the European Union is produced on land that was illegally deforested, according to a report published in Science magazine on Thursday (16 July).
Spanish soccer star starts sapling-seed scheme
Spanish international footballer and Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín has started to make good on his pledge to plant 3,000 trees every time the London club wins a match, as part of a campaign to tackle deforestation in the Amazon.
EU’s trade deals can put an end to deforestation
The EU must take an aggressive “stick and carrot” approach to trade deals in order to put an end to deforestation and avert a next pandemic, writes Fazlun Khalid.
EU-Mercosur deal will have devastating impact on climate, NGOs warn
After 20 years of negotiations, the text of the EU-Mercosur deal was concluded between the EU and the Latin American countries of Mercosur on 28 June in Brussels. While the agreement still has to be approved by the European Parliament and Council, farmers and environmental NGOs are still disappointed. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.
Illegal logging in Romania overwhelms authorities
Thousands of hectares have once again been cleared in one of Europe's last large primeval forests in Romania in recent months. The country's authorities are overwhelmed. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Tackling tropical deforestation: The need for EU leadership
The EU's commitment to introduce mandatory due diligence standards on companies importing products linked to environmental damage and human rights abuses deserves praise, write Darragh Conway and Alison Hoare. It now must be followed through, they argue.
EU aims to ring-fence ‘old-growth forests’ in new biodiversity plan
At least 10% of land – considerably more than the current 3% – will have to be declared “strictly protected areas” under a new EU biodiversity strategy due to be unveiled later this month.
US scientist: ‘Roads and corruption’ are big drivers of deforestation
To be effective, forest conservation initiatives must be rooted in a local context – including the land ownership and tenure ecosystems in which they operate, says Keith Kline, from the prestigious Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US.
Environmental measures in Swedish forests will continue to be strong
In a recent opinion piece, a group of NGOs wrote that Sweden's forest policy is wreaking havoc. Herman Sundqvist argues that this is wrong on several counts and that the country is working to improve environmental measures in the forest.
Sweden’s forest crimes
Sweden presents itself as a global torchbearer on the environment, but its forest policy is wreaking havoc. The EU must act to stop it, say five European NGOs.
EU-wide approach to due diligence needed to regulate cacao sector, manufacturers and NGOs say
Some of the world’s biggest chocolate manufacturers have called on the EU to “strengthen human rights and environmental due diligence requirements of companies in global cocoa supply chains”
Indigenous leaders urge EU to protect forest homeland
Brazilian indigenous leaders pleaded Tuesday (12 November) with European lawmakers to protect the Amazon and the communities living there, warning that the West's insatiable appetite was risking the health of the planet.
Money to burn
Harmful EU financing driving deforestation shows the need for Commissioner designate Frans Timmermans to commit to new rules on corporate responsibility for deforestation and environmental harm, writes Giulia Bondi.
Trees for goals: the teenager playing to end deforestation
Lesein, a 15-year-old Kenyan, is one of the thousands of youngsters around the globe who have joined Greta Thunberg in her fight against climate change. He has been planting trees for every goal he scores since 2018, as his way of contributing to the fight.
Europe’s overloaded land is driving forest destruction and climate breakdown
Europe’s hunger for land is driving deforestation around the world, and makes the EU complicit in the Amazon fires. To save the Amazon and fight climate breakdown, EU farming policy has to change, writes Marco Contiero.
What the European Parliament must do to halt the destruction of the Amazon
EU lawmakers should show global leadership by legislating to ensure that companies' supply chains and investments are not linked to deforestation, environmental harm and human rights abuses, writes Giulia Bondi.
Global appetite for beef, soy fuels Amazon fires
Two of the industries involved in the infernos consuming the Amazon rainforest and drawing the attention of global powers gathered at the G7 meeting in France are familiar to diners worldwide: soy and beef.
Is the EU-Mercosur deal being highjacked by premature criticism?
Almost a month ago, the European Commission signed a free trade agreement with the South American trade alliance Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Since then, criticism has hailed, and not only from protectionists. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU farm chief struggles to dispel concerns over Mercosur trade deal
The EU's Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, sought to address national concerns over the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal during a meeting with the bloc's 28 farm ministers on Monday (15 July).
Large companies fail to disclose impact on deforestation
Almost three out of four companies with a significant footprint on the world's forests have failed to provide data on their impact on global deforestation in 2018, according to a study published by environmental non-profit organisation CDP on Tuesday (16 July).
A bitter taste
Europe’s chocolate habit is driving the world’s fastest rising deforestation rates. We need new EU laws to stop this, writes Julia Christian.