Imported deforestation: Europe is second in the world after China

Published 2021년 4월 14일

Tridge summary

A study by WWF has found that the EU's imports of agricultural products, such as soybeans, palm oil, beef, wood products, cocoa, and coffee, were responsible for the destruction of 203,000 hectares of tropical forests in 2017. This deforestation released 116 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to Belgium's annual emissions. Globally, agricultural trade led to the loss of 1.3 million hectares of tropical forests and the emission of 740 million tonnes of CO2. The report holds France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland responsible for 80% of this deforestation. WWF is calling on the EU to tighten its laws against deforestation, improve product traceability, and include deforestation in its trade negotiations.

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Original content

Via its imports of soybeans, palm oil, beef, but also wood products, cocoa and coffee, the EU indirectly contributed, in 2017, to the disappearance of 203,000 hectares of tropical forests, converted into farmland, according to a new WWF study. This is the equivalent of 116 million tonnes of CO2, i.e. the total greenhouse gas emissions emitted by Belgium in the same year, specifies the report, based on detailed analysis of satellite images and agricultural statistics. and commercial. In total, international trade in agricultural products resulted in the elimination of 1.3 million hectares of tropical forest in 2017 and the emission of 740 million tonnes of CO2, or the equivalent of one fifth of the EU over the year. Before the EU, China's imports accounted for 24% of this deforestation. Conversely, the impact was much less for imports from India (9%), the United States (7%) and Japan (5%). Between 2005 and 2017, the eight main economies of the EU (Germany, Italy, Spain, United ...

Source: Pleinchamp