deforestation

International businesses are risking $941 billion (£711bn) of investments by failing to adequately address the risks posed by deforestation. That’s according to a new report from CDP based on 201 global companies’ disclosures regarding the four commodities responsible for the bulk of deforestation and forest degradation – cattle products, palm oil, timber products and soy. […]

The UK Government has announced two projects to help combat deforestation in Latin America. It is investing £19 million in the Partnerships for Forests (P4F) fund for projects in Brazil, Colombia and Peru to protect the Amazon Rainforest. It has pledged a further £43 million in the REDD for Early Movers (REM) initiative, in partnership […]

Environment MEPs are proposing to raise the EU’s renewable energy goals for 2030. They suggest increasing the share of energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind to at least 35%. It is part of the ongoing reform of the renewables energy directive, a central piece of EU energy and climate change policy, which […]

Brazil has opened up nearly a third of a vast national reserve in the Amazon to mining. The area, which is thought to be rich in gold and other minerals, covers 17,800 square miles across the northern states of Amapa and Para – this is an area larger than Denmark. A decree from President Michel […]

Eight new corporations, including global brands McDonald’s and L’Oréal, have joined a green supply chain initiative. They aim to leverage their purchasing power to achieve deforestation-free commodity supply chains as CDP expands its green initiative. The firms include McDonald’s Latin American franchise Arcos Dorados, Swiss fragrance firm Firmenich, Brazilian meatpacker JBS, US healthcare company Johnson […]

The Amazon rainforest could be at risk of unprecedented levels of deforestation. That’s according to Philip Fearnside, Professor at the National Amazon Research Institute, who says last year alone, more than 3,000 square miles of plants and trees were cut down. This is a 29% higher deforestation rate than the previous year. Brazilian President Michel Temer is currently trying to ease environmental protections in an […]

A Scottish firm has secured a £14.2 million contract from the UK Space Agency to monitor and protect rainforests. Sustainability software and developer Ecometrica won the work from the agency’s recently launched International Partnership Programme (IPP). The IPP aims to bring together expertise from the British space industry to provide green, economic or social benefits to underdeveloped […]

A new £20 million bioeconomy research programme between the UK and Colombia has been announced. The agreement was signed by Nick Hurd, Minister for Industry and Climate Change and Yaneth Giha, Director of Colciencias, a Colombian national research agency. The programme will help tackle pollution and deforestation and develop new drugs, medicines and bio-fertilisers that can sustainably increase crop yields […]

A £152 million green bond to support private sector development and prevent deforestation in developing countries has been launched. The five-year bond has been sold to major global institutional investors including CalSTRS, Theehouse Investments, TIAA-CREF and QBE. The bond will be listed on the London Stock Exchange. It has been issued by the International Finance […]

  Businesses can be profitable by stopping deforestation and tackling climate change. That’s according to Eric Bettelheim, CEO and Chairman of Floresta Singapore who believes investing in commercial forestry is viable for businesses. Speaking to ELN, Mr Bettelheim said: “Commercial forest projects particularly in the tropics not only have a significant yield but they also […]