EU ban on deforestation-related products sets global precedent

Products coming from deforested areas will no longer be imported, EU decides

This Tuesday (05), the European Union (EU) announced an agreement that prohibits the import of products that have contributed to deforestation, such as cocoa, coffee or soy. The decision was taken on the eve of the start of COP15 on Biodiversity in Canada.

From 2025, a review clause in the law (🇬🇧) may allow it to be extended to “other wooded lands”, such as Cerrado Brazilian – source of around 65% of deforestation related to soybeans in the EU – and other commodities such as corn and biodiesel. From 2026, the law may cover other ecosystems with high value biodiversity or high carbon content.

According to a report by The Guardian newspaper, published this Thursday (5), there are fears that a US Forest Law – with similar objectives to the EU regulation – could be blocked after Republicans took control of Congress in the midterm elections. November mandate.

However, the bill's author, Democratic Congressman Earl Blumenauer, said the EU deal gave new impetus to protective legislation.

“I'm very excited,” he said. “This momentum that is being built is very, very important. Our partnership with the EU has been fundamental. Our differences are relatively small and this is an opportunity for us to close ranks and encourage greater private sector leadership, which I believe should not fall victim to partisan crossfire.” (The Guardian*)

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European Union reaches agreement on proposal to monitor and reduce methane emissions

The European Council said there was agreement on a proposal to monitor and reduce methane emissions in the energy sector. In a statement, the European Union (EU) body said that the text is the third of its kind and a “crucial contribution to climate action, as methane is the second most important greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide.” .

'Green tariffs': what are they and why are they important?

The European Union (EU) has become the first major economy to legislate a 'green tariff' on imports, to be levied on goods produced with high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) means that countries that fail to green their industries will soon face a new threat: an effective carbon tax that will penalize those hoping to profit from high-carbon activities. The system will initially be applied to iron and steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, electricity, hydrogen and some chemical products. But do you know what this 'green tariff' means? How can it force corporations to adapt to a more sustainable production process?

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(🇬🇧): content in English

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