Postponing enforcement of the European Union’s anti-deforestation law by two years could expose the EU to 300,769 hectares of deforestation. This is equivalent to an estimated 120 megatons of CO2, or 376 million long-haul flights, according to a new analysis by Global Witness.
Released today, the new findings follow concerns about whether Ursula von der Leyen will implement the EU’s Green Deal. While the President of the European Commission pledged to uphold it on July 18th, she promised to cut red tape in a speech on the same day.
A key part of the Green Deal includes the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which entered into force in June 2023 and requires companies to prove that the products and commodities they are importing to and exporting from the EU are deforestation-free.
Industry associations have called for a delay in the regulation’s implementation, with members of the President’s political group, the European People’s Party (EPP), joining these calls last month.
Despite their calls, some companies appear ready to comply with the new law.
Francesco Tramontin, Vice President EU Institutional Relations and Group Public Policy Center at chocolate producer, Ferrero, said:
''This is similar to food and safety regulation in the 90s. It may look heavy at the beginning from an administrative perspective - but it needs to be done.''
According to the Transparency Register, Ferrero met with Von der Leyen’s cabinet to discuss the topic on May 28th 2024. Tramontin shared that this was to renew the company’s full support for EUDR implementation and to discuss the potential delays in implementation brought forward by other companies.
Ferrero, Mars Wrigley, Nestle, and Tony's Chocolonely sent a concept paper – seen by Global Witness and covered today by Reuters – to Von der Leyen's cabinet, advocating for the creation of a standing committee for EUDR implementation. The paper states that its signatories 'have supported the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and are committed to its successful implementation.'
Companies globally also continue to advocate for regulation that will help protect nature and biodiversity.
Giulia Bondi, Senior EU Campaigner at Global Witness, said:
“Any delays in implementing the EU’s anti-deforestation regulation jeopardises global efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity – with our research demonstrating the potential scale of this impact.’’
“Postponing the EUDR’s implementation would capitulate to industry pressure, favoring short-term profits over the urgent need for a carbon-neutral future. The science is clear - we cannot afford a delay.’’
The EUDR is set to be enforced from the end of 2024 for large operators and traders, with micro and small-sized enterprises following six months later.
While the groups that allowed von der Leyen to secure her second term called for non-regression on the Green Deal, the Commission President pledged to "make business easier and faster in Europe" in the political guidelines for her mandate last Thursday.
/ ENDS
Notes to editor:
The emissions associated with deforestation risk exposure are based on data produced by Deforestation Driver and Carbon Emission (DeDuCE) model (Singh & Persson 2024). This model uses remote sensing data on forest loss and land use, along with agricultural statistics, to attribute deforestation worldwide to the expansion of cropland, pastures, forest plantations, and the commodities produced on this land.
Global Witness calculated the CO2 emissions linked to the EU’s forest-risk commodity imports using data from 2021 and 2022.
These figures likely underestimate the true emissions. The dataset does not include all forest-risk commodities covered by the EUDR, such as timber. Additionally, reliable deforestation estimates for more processed products are not available and are not reflected in the data.
Flight emissions figures are based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) passenger emissions calculator. The long-haul flight used to calculate the total is a one-way trip flight from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG), estimated to produce 319 kg of CO2/ passenger.