The European Commission has today released a proposal to delay the landmark anti-deforestation law by 12 months
The first-of-its-kind legislation would require businesses to prove products produced and sold in the EU market are free from deforestation and forest degradation
Global Witness calculates that the proposed one-year delay could drive at least 150,385 hectares of deforestation linked to EU trade, an area more than fourteen times the size of Paris
This forest clearance would significantly undermine global efforts to combat climate change by releasing carbon emissions equivalent to 188 million long-haul flights
Global Witness urges the Council and EU Parliament to reject the proposal and instead require implementation as planned from 30 December 2024
The European Commission has today released a proposal to delay the implementation and enforcement of the EU’s landmark anti-deforestation law, known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), by 12 months, in a move that Global Witness describes as a ‘serious setback’ for climate action.
The law is scheduled to take effect for larger operators and traders on 30 December 2024. It will require companies to demonstrate that the commodities and products they produce and sell in the EU market are free from deforestation and forest degradation, and that they comply with human rights protections in the countries of production.
Giulia Bondi, Senior EU Forests Campaigner at Global Witness said:
“The European Commission's announcement today does grave disservice to Indigenous Peoples and local communities who are already risking their lives to protect climate-critical forests. Businesses are pushing back because this law finally takes a stand against deforestation and those willing to clear priceless ecosystems to turn a profit.
“This law is the product of extensive negotiations, and any potential delay threatens the EU democratic decision-making process. That the European Commission is now caving in to pressure from industries who want to continue profiting from deforestation raises serious alarm about their priorities over the next five years.”
The proposal, believed to be led by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, states that “all implementation tools are technically ready”.
Global Witness’ analysis suggests the proposed one-year delay could seriously jeopardise the EU’s Green Deal agenda , driving at least 150,385 hectares of deforestation linked to EU trade, an area more than fourteen times the size of Paris.
In late September, the EU confirmed to the World Trade Organisation that the EUDR would proceed according to the agreed schedule and any delay “would not achieve our goal to provide legal predictability for operators”.
Companies covered by the law have already had 18 months to prepare, and many of them have already adapted their operations to be EUDR compliant.
Global Witness, along with various other stakeholders, warns that postponing this regulation will only worsen the ongoing deforestation crisis, and grant deforesting companies additional opportunities to profit from environmental destruction through access to EU markets.
Notes to editor:
Giulia Bondi is based in Brussels and available for immediate interview.
Methodology:
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.