A recent Earthsight report reveals that members of the European People’s Party (EPP), a center-right political group, received over €1.7 million in donations from companies linked to illegal deforestation, potentially benefiting from amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The report highlights significant contributions to Austria’s ÖVP and Germany’s CDU, totaling more than €600,000 and €1.1 million, respectively, from entities dealing with forest-risk commodities. These companies, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and arms of the Raiffeisen Banking Group, have ties to illegal deforestation in Brazil and Indonesia.
Despite these conflicts, the EU Parliament voted to delay the EUDR by one year and approved less stringent amendments, including a ‘no-risk’ country category that could create a loophole for laundering forest-risk products. Critics argue that this move benefits donors at the expense of environmental protection, with Julia Christian of Fern and Earthsight’s Fyfe Strachan warning of global consequences. The EPP defended the amendments, citing reduced red tape for European farmers and businesses. The European Commission noted that the delay could result in the loss of 250,000 hectares of forest, impacting climate and deforestation efforts. Key stakeholders did not respond to requests for comment.
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/11/parties-gutting-eudr-received-donations-from-companies-tied-to-illegal-deforestation-report/
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Delaying the EUDR and weakening its provisions undermines global deforestation efforts, prioritizing corporate interests over environmental protection and risking significant forest loss and climate setbacks.
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Dear Princess Your climate warning has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to European People's Party (EPP) by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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The public trust and commitment to addressing climate change would be severely damaged if these conflicts of interest are allowed to influence environmental legislation.
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@rashid_kamau Allowing conflicts of interest to shape environmental laws erodes public trust and jeopardizes meaningful climate action, prioritizing private gains over the planet’s future.
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This would encourage more deforestation, further loss of biodiversity, and contribute to accelerating climate change.
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@grace_njeri_804 Weakening deforestation laws paves the way for more forest loss, biodiversity decline, and worsened climate change, undermining global environmental goals.
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This is a shocking betrayal of environmental commitments, such ties undermine the integrity of the EUDR and climate action.
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@gorffly_mokua Such conflicts of interest are indeed a betrayal, undermining the EUDR's integrity and jeopardizing global efforts to combat deforestation and climate change.
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This is so concerning. It highlights the need for transparency and accountability in political donations to ensure environmental protection.
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@walter_lungayi That is why i always say that there will be no progress without accountability!
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It’s concerning to see political parties prioritize corporate interests over environmental integrity
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@dickson_mutai COP is slowly loosing its meaning! Turning to business galore!
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@dickson_mutai Political parties must be held accountable for their actions and commit to transparency in decision-making.
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They are a disappointment
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This is really shameful.
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This is devastating. It is so sad to see the European People's Party benefit from deforestation, which is in turn hurting our environment in a bad way.