Over 20 prominent supermarkets, food manufacturers, and restaurant chains have joined forces to call upon the UK government to bolster its efforts in combating deforestation, extending beyond just illegal activities. The proposed legislation, announced in August, aims to penalize UK companies that utilize products sourced from illegally cleared land in tropical regions. Under the new regulations, large corporations in the UK would be required to disclose the origins of commodities, such as cocoa, soy, rubber, and leather, which pose risks to forests. The use of products originating from nations that fail to protect their natural resources could potentially be deemed illegal.
According to World Bank statistics, an estimated 1.3 million square kilometres of forest vanished between 1990 and 2016, an area larger than that of South Africa. Despite the existence of voluntary carbon markets aiming to “compensate” communities that safeguard their forests against deforestation, the loss of forests persists. Notably, forestry projects became the most transacted project type within the voluntary sector in 2018. As part of the Carbon Forward 2020 conference, I will be moderating various sessions, including a panel discussion on October 14th and 15th. The panel boasts an excellent lineup, featuring esteemed individuals such as Emily Huynh from UKGBC, Mischa Repmann from Swiss Re, and Alberto Carrillo Pineda from CPD. These sessions aim to provide delegates with insights into how the voluntary sector attracts investors and manages corporate footprints.
