What the EU-Mercosur deal might mean for the environment

⭐ Join our community and access the best we offer!

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Deutsche Welle or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The EU-Mercosur trade deal, signed after 25 years of negotiations, will open up markets on both continents
• The deal will significantly boost trade in agricultural products, including beef, poultry, and soy, from South America to Europe
• Critics warn it may exacerbate environmental damage, particularly deforestation

🔭 The context: The EU aim to promote the deal as a step towards sustainable development and climate action
• However, environmental analysts express concern that increased agricultural exports linked to deforestation, especially in the Amazon and other South American ecosystems, will undermine global climate goals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The deal is set to create one of the world's largest free-trade areas
• But practices such as cattle ranching and large-scale soy farming, will likely be incentivized, contributing to forest degradation and biodiversity loss

⏭️ What’s next: The EU’s ability to enforce the environmental clauses in the agreement will be crucial
• While the deal includes provisions to support biodiversity and climate action, experts argue that without strong enforcement mechanisms, these measures could be ineffective

💬 One quote: "This agreement basically goes against the EU's climate commitments," said Audrey Changoe, trade policy coordinator at Climate Action Network Europe

📈 One stat: The EU accounts for nearly half of the world’s tropical forest loss, largely driven by agriculture and logging

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on public governance