Worldwide, forests are being lost at an alarming rate: the equivalent of 800 football fields per hour. As deforestation is a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation, and we also need to take measures to protect and sustainably manage forests. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption is estimated to be responsible for around 10 % of global deforestation.

Towards deforestation-free commodities and products in the EU – English

Press conference by Christophe HANSEN, rapporteur on the new regulation to stop EU-driven global deforestation

Trilogue on the regulation on deforestation-free products.

Press conference - Deforestation

EP plenary session - Deforestation

Lumberjack at work with a chainsaw - Tree felling

Workers cutting and burning bushes and trees

October 1978 - Trees felled behind the Batiment Tour Alcide de Gasperi for building the new hemicycle in Luxembourg

Workers cutting trees behind the Palace of Europe, Strasbourg, October 1978.

MEPs, Council and Commission meet to try to reach a deal on the regulation for deforestation-free products. The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify (so-called “due diligence”) that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested land anywhere in the world. This would guarantee to consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to deforestation and reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss

Trilogue on Deforestation (regulation for deforestation-free products)

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament debates with Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, about the proposed new legislation that the European Parliament called for in order to stop EU-driven global deforestation and forest degradation by obliging companies placing products on the EU market to carry out due diligence. Extracts from the exchange of views and statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARDT (S&D,DE).

European Parliament's legislative proposal to reduce the risk of deforestation/forest degradation: extracts from exchange of views between ENVI Committee and Virginijus Sinkevičius Commissioner for Environment, statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARD

European Parliament's legislative proposal to reduce the risk of deforestation/forest degradation: extracts from exchange between ENVI Committee and Virginijus Sinkevičius Commissioner for Environment, statement by rapporteur Delara BURKHARDT (S&D,DE

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate (21/10) on a binding legislation based on traceability requirements and mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market to ensure that EU consumption does not lead to global deforestation. The final vote takes place on 22/10 and the results are: 695 votes, 377 in favor, 75 against, 243 abstensions. The report is adopted. Illustration shots of deforestation in Brazil.

Deforestation: extracts from the debate (21/10), from the vote and illustration shots

During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs vote a resolution to tackle the environmental impacts of unsustainable palm oil production, such as deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in South-East Asia. Mairead MCGUINNESS opens the vote. The results are: 640 in favour, 18 against and 28 abstentions.&nbsp;

Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests: extracts from the vote on the report Kateřina KONEČNÁ (GUE/NGL, CZ)

Kateřina KONEČN&Aacute; (GUE/NGL,CZ), rapporteur, expresses herself in the EP in Brussels, prior to the debate on her report concerning palm oil and deforestation of rainforests during the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg,

Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests: statement by Kateřina KONEČNÁ (GUE/NGL,CZ), rapporteur

During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on tackling the environmental impacts of unsustainable palm oil production, such as deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in South-East Asia. Members advocate phasing out the use in biofuels of vegetable oils linked to deforestation by 2020, and a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the EU market. Statements by Kostadinka KUNEVA (GUE/NGL, EL), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Florent MARCELLESI (Greens/EFA, ES) and Catherine BEARDER (ALDE, UK).

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