Deforestation is responsible for 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, half of which are the result of internationally traded agriculture products. On its own, the EU accounts for as much as 36 percent of all global imports of crop and livestock products associated with deforestation.
With this in mind, the EU Commission has recently taken what environmental campaigners call a “pivotal step” towards addressing the deforestation caused by its consumption of soy, chocolate, meat, and other products.
The new plan consists of working together with governments to promote better use of land and resources, managing supply chains, and carrying out research. A possible new regulation to “minimize the impact of EU consumption on deforestation and forest degradation” will also be assessed under the plan.
