Deforestation effect of UK consumption unsustainable, say MPs

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🗞️ Driving the news: A UK parliamentary report finds the country's consumption of certain products has significantly contributed to global deforestation
• In particular, consumption of products like soya, cocoa, palm oil, beef, and leather have been linked to this deforestation

🔭 The context: The UK government's recent legislation bans products from illegal deforestation but does not address the broader issue, as much deforestation is legal in the source countries of these products
• As a result, the UK's deforestation footprint per tonne of product consumed is higher than that of other countries, including China

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Deforestation contributes 11% of global carbon emissions and affects biodiversity and livelihoods of 1.6 billion people
• The UK's consumption habits and legislation have global environmental impacts, particularly on forests

⏭️ What's next: MPs urge the government to set targets to reduce the UK's global deforestation impact and to ensure all forest-risk goods are certified sustainable
• They also call for full participation of indigenous peoples in addressing deforestation

💬 One quote: "UK markets must not be flooded with products that threaten the world’s forests," (Philip Dunne MP, chair of the committee)

📈 One stat: UK imports of seven forest-risk commodities account for a land footprint 88% the size of the UK annually

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