WHAT'S IN THE NEWS?
The latest on deforestation and Lula’s ‘Devastation Bill’ in Brazil.
THE FOOD INDUSTRY CALLS FOR ACTION ON DEFORESTATION
How is deforestation and the climate crisis linked?
Deforestation is the purposeful clearing or thinning of trees and forests. When it occurs, much of the carbon stored by trees is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This contributes to climate change.
Deforestation accounts for about 20% of global emissions.
Image source: NASA
Why are we doing it?
Deforestation is almost entirely driven by agriculture, to produce the products we eat here in the UK.
The largest drivers include beef, soy (used mostly in animal feed), palm oil (also used in animal feed), coffee, cocoa and paper.
Image source: planet.com
UK DAIRY PRODUCTS LINKED TO DEFORESTATION
One thing leads to the other. Deforestation leads to climate change, which leads to ecosystem losses, which negatively impacts our livelihoods – it’s a vicious cycle.
Gisele Bundchen, Brazilian environmental activist and model