Amazon fires debate
Quote from Heidi Hautala MEP
Today, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA and other groups, the European Parliament debated the on-going fires in the Amazon rainforest. Heidi Hautala MEP and Greens/EFA spokesperson on trade comments:
"Tackling climate change requires capturing carbon dioxide with all possible means and the only viable large-scale capture can be done with the help of forests. However, European consumption is causing large scale deforestation in the world. The EU must not, directly or indirectly, be the driving force behind deforestation and the destruction of indigenous communities' lands. The Mercosur agreement is intended to boost beef exports that drive deforestation and endanger the Amazon region.
"The Mercosur deal currently does not have a mechanism to ensure it will not lead to adverse climate effects. Trade and sustainable development have to be combined to reach the Paris climate goals. There must be tangible consequences for not abiding by the Paris commitments written into any trade agreement. The European Commission must respond to tragic crisis in the Amazon and halt the Mercosur trade agreement until it can be revisited to ensure it will not encourage deforestation."
Background:
With around 80,000 fires between January and August 2019, the number rose by 83 percent compared to 2018. The sharp rise in the number of fires in the world's largest rainforest occurred during the term of office of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Brazil's rise to become the world's largest beef exporter.
Today, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA and other groups, the European Parliament debated the on-going fires in the Amazon rainforest. Heidi Hautala MEP and Greens/EFA spokesperson on trade comments:
