EU delays landmark regulation designed to curb deforestation
The European Parliament voted to delay the implementation of a major deforestation law, raising concerns among environmentalists about potential forest loss and climate impact.
Anne-Sophie Brändlin reports for Deutsche Welle.
In short:
- The European Parliament delayed a new law requiring EU importers to prove their supply chains do not contribute to global deforestation; the delay may allow for weakening the law’s content.
- The deforestation regulation, part of the European Green Deal, was expected to start by the end of 2024 and would have penalized companies failing to comply.
- Critics, including lawmakers and cocoa farmers from Ghana and Ivory Coast, argue the delay undermines years of preparation by companies that were ready to meet the new standards.
Key quote:
"With this delay, a new legislative proposal is effectively being introduced into the process, where amendments can also be made, and there are many, many actors who would prefer to scrap or weaken the law."
— Anna Cavazzini, European Parliament member for Germany's Green Party
Why this matters:
Deforestation accelerates climate change and endangers biodiversity by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. Delaying EU action risks worsening these impacts and may undermine global efforts to preserve forests, especially in tropical regions that are critical for carbon storage and ecosystem stability.
