Over 100 organisations call for an ambitious EU law on deforestation

ClientEarth and a coalition of NGO partners have developed a civil society position statement calling for an ambitious EU law on deforestation that has been supported by 110 organisations across Europe and beyond.

The European Commission presented a proposal for this new EU law in November 2021. It is now being reviewed by the European Parliament and Member States, who will negotiate the final version.

This new law is a rare opportunity to address the links between EU consumption and the destruction of forests and other important natural ecosystems, which are vital for protecting biodiversity and sustaining the stable climate on which our societies and economies depend. It presents and unprecedented chance for the EU to take the lead as a global standard-setter in environmental governance and ensure the products in European supermarkets are truly sustainable.

The position statement lists 16 essential requirements to close the loopholes in the current proposal, fix its weaknesses and defend its strengths. Addressing these requirements will ensure that the new law is truly fit for purpose and that the EU’s footprint on nature is effectively minimised. This is what citizens and consumers expect