EU deforestation law postponed and diluted by Parliament

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🗞️ Driving the news: The EU’s anti-deforestation law, which mandates traceability for imported products linked to deforestation, has been delayed and weakened by amendments pushed through by a right-wing majority in the European Parliament
• The law, set to be enforced at the end of 2024, will now see a phased implementation by 2025, with reduced requirements for certain “no-risk” countries
• Environmental NGOs argue that the amendments compromise the law’s effectiveness, weakening standards that were intended to curb deforestation linked to EU imports

🔭 The context: The EU’s deforestation law was originally designed to target products like beef, soy, and coffee from deforested land, linking EU consumption to approximately 10% of global deforestation
• The amendments introduce “no-risk” classifications for countries with stable or increasing forest areas, exempting them from stringent requirements
• This vote reflects a recent right-wing shift in the Parliament, which has raised concerns about potential rollbacks of other Green Deal policies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Delaying and weakening the deforestation law reduces the EU’s leverage in combating global deforestation, particularly in regions with fragile ecosystems
• Environmental groups warn that this could set a precedent, encouraging future legislative rollbacks in the Green Deal’s broader agenda, potentially undermining global efforts to protect forests
• Strong deforestation laws are critical to meeting biodiversity and climate targets, which rely on reducing deforestation-driven emissions

⏭️ What's next: The law’s revised text will undergo further review by the European Parliament and the Council, and the European Commission must decide whether to oppose or accept the amendments
• Should the Commission withdraw support, the Council would need unanimous approval to pass the law, complicating its enactment
• The outcome of this debate may set the tone for future EU environmental policies and the continuity of the Green Deal

💬 One quote: “We aim to stop illegal global deforestation, but without overburdening European farmers or international trading partners” – Christine Schneider, lead negotiator for the EPP on the deforestation law

📈 One stat: EU consumption of products linked to deforestation contributes to roughly 10% of global deforestation, per FAO data

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