In a movement of climate activists call a “slap in the face”, European government officials are working to delay a anti-deforestation law within a year.

According to a Reuters reportThe impending delay follows global criticism that the law, which focuses on imports, is too restrictive and could harm importers around the world.

What’s going on?

European officials are considering delaying the implementation of a new climate law banning the import of goods linked to deforestation. The law – known as European Union Regulation on Deforestationor EUDR – was initially scheduled to come into force on December 30. Now the authorities want to delay the adoption of the law for 12 months.

The unprecedented climate law require companies importing soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber, rubber and other products to prove their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation. To comply, companies should closely monitor their supply chains, reporting data such as a product’s country of origin and the exact geolocation of where a product was manufactured. Companies would face significant fines if their supply chains fail to comply with regulations.

According to ReutersSeveral countries and industry sectors say the law could have a negative impact on millions of poor small farmers who depend on European markets. Other critics fear the regulations could disrupt supply chains and increase the price of products imported into the EU. Some also say the law would harm EU farmers, who would be barred from exporting produce grown on deforested land under the regulations.

Activists, however, see the law as a necessary step protect forests globallyencouraging a less polluting supply chain and requiring importers to create sustainable supply chains.

“Europeans don’t want anti-deforestation products on their supermarket shelves, but that’s what this delay will bring them for another twelve months,” Green Peace said in reaction to the proposed delay.

Why is the European anti-deforestation law important?

According to WWF datathe EU is the second largest contributor to deforestation in the world through its imports. After China, the EU is responsible for 16% of global consumption. deforestation.

Sam Lawson, director of the nonprofit Terrestrial visionsaid The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that a one-year delay in EUDR would be “devastating” for the world’s forests.

“The EU’s own studies indicate that some 2,300 km² of forest will be destroyed,” Lawson said. ICIJ. “The consequences on the climate are enormous: the resulting emissions are equivalent to those of 18 million cars.”

According to the United Nations dataan area of ​​forest of approximately the size of Portugal is destroyed every year by deforestation. But forests are vital to the planet, helping to address some of the planet’s devastating impacts. climate change.

Notably, forests store considerable amounts of carbon dioxide and release considerable amounts of oxygen into the air. Forests help too eliminate pollutants air and water and help to conserve and enrich the soil. Lush forest environments also provide vital habitats for plants, wildlife and even humans. According to the WWF, more than 70 million people around the world live in forested regions, most of whom are members of indigenous communities.

With this in mind, Human rights monitoring calls the delay of the EU’s proposed law “bad news for the world’s climate-critical forests as well as the human rights of indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities.”

What’s next for the European anti-deforestation law?

EU member states recently approved a 12-month delay in implementing the law. The proposal now goes to European Parliament for a vote in mid-November. In fact, it is expected that the law will be delayed by a year.

This is not the first time that EU green laws and regulations have been challenged or watered down. According to ReutersEuropean leaders have repealed several climate laws over the past year to appease farmers and importers.

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