Which Country Banned Deforestation by Law

Companies selling their products to the EU must prove that their products are not linked to deforestation, or face fines of up to four percent of their annual turnover in the EU. The billions invested by Norway in the fight against deforestation abroad follow the hypocritical relationship of the West with climate change, which once again blames developing countries and diverts attention from the West`s responsibility for environmental degradation, writes Muhammed Magassy. “Other countries should follow Norway`s lead and make similar commitments to zero deforestation,” Ranum said. “Germany and Britain in particular must act in line with their joint statement at the UN climate summit. The zero deforestation commitment was proposed by the Standing Committee on Energy and Environment as part of the Norwegian government`s action plan on natural diversity. This obligation excludes deforestation in public procurement. In other words, the Norwegians will not award any of their government contracts to companies involved in deforestation. Norway is no novice when it comes to investing in limiting deforestation. In 2008, the country gave Brazil $1 billion to halt or significantly slow deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Brazil reduced deforestation rates by 75 percent in 2015 by saving 33,000 square miles of ancient primary rainforest. That`s the equivalent of carbon savings, like taking all American cars off the road for a year. Experts have rightly spoken of Norway`s “climate paradox”: the oil-rich Scandinavian country claims to be leading global climate efforts while relying on highly polluting fossil fuels. Norway`s ruling Conservative Party has promised to continue oil cultivation until it loses profitability.

The bill is binding 20 days after its formal adoption, which is expected to take place next year, the European Commission told the BBC. Norway`s double standards on deforestation at home and abroad are also appalling. Since 2017, the country has been steadily losing forest area. However, Norway acts as if this were just a problem in the developing world. To further counter this situation, Norway has invested large sums of money to halt deforestation in Brazil, Liberia and Indonesia. For example, Norway gave Brazil $1 billion in 2008 to combat deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The investment paid off. By 2015, the South American country had saved more than 33,000 square miles of forest and kept 3.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The reason the MSPO program has produced results is that the Malaysian government imposes sanctions and penalties for non-compliance: the program not only rewards farmers who have no deforestation, but also has a negative impact on producers who do not. Above all, deforestation has increased both in Brazil and globally, while some regions have experienced the opposite trend.

In Malaysia, for example, palm oil producers have set up national certification schemes to ensure that palm oil is no longer produced at the expense of tropical forests. “The new law will ensure that a number of key goods placed on the (EU) market no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world,” the European Commission said in a statement. Aerial view of deforestation by soybean farmers in Novo Progreso, Para, Brazil. (AP Photo/Alberto. [+] Unfortunately, at the current rate of deforestation, the world`s tropical forests could disappear completely within 100 years. But by being the first country to take such an important step against this practice, Norway is setting an example that I hope the rest of our world`s nations – including our own – will soon follow. Many see Norway as the embodiment of global climate leadership: a wealthy Scandinavian country that gives billions to help developing countries meet their climate goals. Norway`s parliament has promised that the government`s public procurement policy will become deforestation-free, after a committee of MPs recommended that regulations be passed to ensure the state “does not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest.” That`s not all! Norway does not only focus on South American forests. The country is also working hard in Africa and other parts of the world.

Liberia, with the help of Norway, has become the first country in Africa to stop cutting down trees in exchange for aid, the BBC reported. Under the agreement, Norway will pay the West African country $150 million by 2020 to halt deforestation. The country has agreed to protect 30% or more of its forests by 2020. This is not the first time that Norway has put into practice “speak for trees”. Banning supply chain deforestation only continues the country`s long history of protecting the world`s vital forests. The basis for the commitment to forest protection is the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit in New York. During the climate summit, Norway, Germany and the UK issued a joint statement saying they will “promote national commitments that promote deforestation-free supply chains, including through public procurement policies for the sustainable sourcing of raw materials such as palm oil (cooking), soy (soy wax candles, soy-based food products), beef and timber.” So far, Norway is the only country that supports the declaration through politics. A study last year found that in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Guinea, the aforementioned products were responsible for 40% of all tropical deforestation and 44% of similar CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2011.

“Our country is at a stage where our people are no less materialistic [than developed countries] and no less willing to improve their lives,” said Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana`s foreign minister. “We want to grow further, but we can`t do it without payment.” The funds are allocated by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), which manages a large part of the initiative`s funds on behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. Germany and Britain joined Norway in pledging at the 2014 UN climate summit to “promote national commitments that promote deforestation-free supply chains” through public procurement policies and sustainable sourcing products such as palm oil, soy, beef and timber. reported the Huffington Post. It is also common knowledge that illegal logging is widespread in Brazil`s beef and soybean industries. Last year, a study found that about a fifth of Brazil`s soybean and beef exports to the European Union came from illegally deforested land. Norway`s action plan also includes a call from Parliament for the government to pay special attention to biodiversity protection in its investments through the Norwegian State Pension Fund Global. For this reason, no products that contribute to deforestation are used in the Scandinavian country.

Their ban on eliminating deforestation from the supply chain only continues the country`s long history of protecting the world`s vital forests. Suddenly, developing countries are expected to do all the work necessary to make their own industries more sustainable, while the West derives revenues from fossil fuels. When you look at Norway`s recent investments to curb deforestation abroad, it smells like a publicity stunt.