Posted on October, 16 2019

On 23 July 2019, the European Commission published its long-awaited communication on deforestation and forest degradation, "Stepping up EU Action to protect and restore the World's forests". The communication addressed the impact of EU consumption on deforestation as well as forest degradation. According to the communication, EU consumption represents around 10% of the global share of deforestation embodied in total final consumption of commodities such as palm oil, beef, soy, cocoa, maize, timber and rubber. 
 
In a new joint briefing, the NGOs Client Earth, Conservation International Europe, Environmental Investigation Agency, Fern, Forest Peoples Programme, Global Witness, Greenpeace, WCS EU and WWF lay out a number of measures they recommend to take to ensure that the set of actions proposed in the communication are developed further and made effective and complementary, especially any new legislative measures. The undersigning NGOs consider the communication as a welcome basis for the development of decisive EU action to protect and restore forests and other natural ecosystems while protecting human rights. Implementing a comprehensive set of measures and initiatives, including new legislation, is essential to reduce the EU’s footprint on the world’s natural ecosystems.
 
Contact:
Anke Schulmeister – Oldenhove
aschulmeister@wwf.eu
+32 485 843 144