Mighty Earth joins 170+ strong global coalition calling for Ursula von der Leyen to “stand firm” on EUDR

Link to letter here

A global coalition of more than 170 organisations has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling on her to “ensure the EU stands firm in protecting the objectives of the EUDR.”

The Together4Forests letter, signed by Mighty Earth, calls for the “proper and swift” implementation of the groundbreaking European Union Deforestation Regulation.

It follows a recent attempt by the Agriculture Ministries of 20 EU member states, led by Austria, to delay and weaken the carefully constructed EUDR, designed to ensure products linked to global deforestation– such as beef, soy, rubber, coffee, wood, palm oil and cocoa – cannot be sold in the EU.

The call comes as a new report by World Resources Institute reveals total tropical primary forest loss in 2023 totaled 3.7 million hectares, the equivalent of losing almost 10 soccer fields of forest per minute. 1.6 billion people, including nearly 70 million Indigenous people rely on standing forests for their survival.

Alex Wijeratna, Senior Director at Mighty Earth, said: 

“Over 170 campaign groups from across the globe are urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to stand firm and publicly rebuff efforts to sabotage Europe’s groundbreaking zero-deforestation law.

“We’re code red for the climate and nature crisis but the rampant destruction of tropical forests continues apace, threatening Indigenous people and wildlife. The EU’s consumption of commodities like beef, soy and cocoa is driving this destruction. Any delay to the EUDR would put global climate and nature goals out of reach and further imperil communities on the frontline of deforestation.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The EUDR was officially entered into law in June 2023, and was the culmination of years of negotiations between member states, the European Commission, and the European Parliament; as well as consultations with academic experts and key stakeholders from industry and civil society.
• Imports of agricultural imports to Europe are the second largest contributors to global deforestation in the world, after China’s.
• A recent poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Europeans (82%) believe businesses should not sell products that destroy the world’s forests and support (81%) the law to ban products that drive deforestation.
• There was a groundswell of support for the EUDR with almost 1.2 million citizens calling on the EU to pass a strong regulation to stop imported deforestation.

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