"Global Witness welcomes landmark report from European Parliament on tackling EU’s role in global deforestation"

In response to the European Parliament’s vote to adopt a legislative report on tackling EU-driven deforestation, Giulia Bondi, Forests Campaigner at Global Witness, said:

“Global Witness welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of this landmark legislative report... The report recommends new rules requiring all companies placing goods on the European single market to check, mitigate and prevent the risk of deforestation and associated human rights abuses. 

Notably, it emphasises that the same mandatory due diligence rules should also apply to all financial institutions doing business in the EU that are providing funds to companies associated with forest-risk commodities; this is a crucial step to help stop the money pipeline bankrolling deforestation. 

Furthermore, the report calls for access to remedies to affected communities and a clear regime of civil liability and sanctions, ensuring that there are robust accountability mechanisms in place to help protect human rights and the environment..."