The Climate Reality Project’s Post

It is time for consumers and investors of agricultural commodities to step up and reassert their commitment to a healthy, just, and balanced climate, planet and society. We need to eradicate deforestation and conversion from our food systems, the same way we do not accept child labor or similar immoral practices. It is unacceptable to coexist with deforestation and conversion of native ecosystems in a planet heading towards +2 C degrees, where some 70% of biodiversity has been lost, in a country like Brazil where there are some 107 million hectares of degraded, abandoned, poorly utilised or simply wasted lands. We need to find other ways for those in the frontiers to thrive that is not linked to deforestation, we need to share more equally historical gains and responsibilities. We need to strengthen and expand measures such as the Amazon Soy Moratorium instead of dismantle it. Some recent coverage on the latest threats to initiatives seeking to make the world a better place for multiple people and generations: https://lnkd.in/ePWa5H9j https://lnkd.in/ecgp58bd

To ensure Brazil meets its pledge to end deforestation by 2030, the private sector must take action. Since cattle is the largest driver of deforestation globally, and Brazil is the most significant country in this matter, companies and financial institutions involved in the cattle supply chain (nationally and internationally) must commit to do their part. Currently, 80% are completely ignoring this issue. The good news is that the path to change is clear. There is sufficient data and guidance available to support the transition and address deforestation effectively. We firmly believe that deforestation is a solvable crisis, and we want to see progress by COP30, which will take place for the very first time in our beloved—and threatened—Amazon rainforest. Find out more about the new Floresta 250 - Cattle data, published yesterday and available at floresta250.org. https://lnkd.in/dg-NuBAZ

🌳🦋🐸🌍A milestone in the fight against deforestation: the 2024 Goldman prize goes to Marcel Gomes of Réporter Brazil, who tracked the meat industy and deforestation in the Amazon Brazil, from farm to table, including European tables😒. 65% of deforestation in Brazil is caused by cattle ranching. #stopdeforestation #sustainablesupplychains https://lnkd.in/d7WPVXMA

Some #goodnews ahead of the weekend 🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is down by almost half, according to the latest government data reported by The Associated Press’s Fabiano Maisonnave. 🪵The #Amazon rainforest lost 4,300 square kilometres last year - an almost 46% dip compared to the previous period. 📑 President Lula has committed to zero #deforestation by 2030 - but to achieve that we need tougher action to crack down on the leading drivers of deforestation - cattle and soy. Total deforestation and conversion of native vegetation across Brazil rose from 1.6 million hectares in 2018 to 1.83 Mha in 2020, as per Trase - Intelligence for sustainable trade. 🌎 The preliminary stats come ahead of the much anticipated 2025 #COP30 in Belem where Brazil has the opportunity to lobby for #sustainable and deforestation-free agriculture. https://lnkd.in/ebk95iDS

This is a very interesting article about impending market access constraints relating to deforestation. To the urban consumer the meaning of "deforestation" probably seems obvious but to someone managing extensive tracts of land, it is far from simple. Large areas of land were cleared for grazing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Managing regrowth of low-value pioneer vegetation on this type of land might or might not be considered deforestation.

‘This is a pivot point in the Brazilian cattle sector’ was the conclusion of Paula Caballero of The Nature Conservancy as she wrapped up a great event organised by IDH, Tropical Forest Alliance and The Nature Conservancy at #NYCClimateWeek today on ending #deforestation and transforming the Brazilian Cattle sector. Paula was reflecting on the growing collaboration between farmers, companies and state and federal agencies in cattle traceability and pasture restoration in #MatoGrosso and #Para. As an adviser to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture stated ‘ we don’t need deforestation (to expand agricultural production) because we have enough degraded pasture’ and they aim to restore 40m hectares of former cattle land for row crops and agroforestry. The Governor of Para state, Helder Barbalho  spoke about his governments requirement that all cattle moved in the state will be fully traced from birth by December 2025, which also happens to be when his state capital, Belem will host the monumentally important #COP30. As Brazil reels from unprecedented fires, and smoke affects 60% of its territory, Daan Wensing called for COP30 to be the ‘Paris agreement' for #agriculture and to drive action for reducing the sectors huge contribution to emissions, and to help make farmers more resilient to climate disruption. Today the Para government signed a deal to sell 12 million tonnes of carbon to the #LEAFCoalition, the first #Amazon state to qualify. Per F I Pharo, representing Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and a key figure in the forest world for many years, said that we would ‘ look back at this moment as when markets and environmental services took off’. Big thanks to Julia Mangueira, José Otavio Passos and Manuela Maluf Santos for making the event happen

With Brazil’s politicians, agribusiness organisations and global traders piling on the pressure, the highly successful 2006 Soy Moratorium is under threat WWF said any move to end or weaken the soy moratorium could open up 1.1m hectares of forest for soy production and push the Amazon closer to a calamitous tipping point and emitting 300m tonnes of CO2 from deforestation. “This is not just an environmental issue but a critical economic and reputational risk for the entire Brazilian soy industry,” WWF noted in an email statement. “In addition, this could lead to an increase in land speculation, land grabbing and potential conflict in the region.” #deforestation #brazil #amazonbasin #tippingpoints #soya #soymoratorium #landuse #landgrabs #landgrabbing

Pledges and voluntary action alone are not enough to tackle global deforestation. The EU is taking a historic step with EUDR to verify that certain products are not sourced from recently converted forest land, a move essential to curb deforestation driven by agriculture. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), only seven commodities, including wood, rubber, cattle, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and soy, contributed to 57% of tree cover loss linked to agriculture from 2001 to 2015. This loss replaced forests equivalent to more than twice the size of Germany. The EU, as the second-largest market for these commodities after China, is witnessing a rise in demand. The requirement for manufacturers to demonstrate that their products are not linked to recent deforestation is a crucial step towards preserving global forests. Read more about this significant initiative here: https://lnkd.in/dr_Jwiw9

This Mongabay articles provides a good assessment of the potential impact of the delay of #EUDR on smallholder farmers, bringing in perspectives from across different sectors. I provided input on level of investment and readiness of the #cocoa and #chocolate companies who have been making investments in #traceability and #deforestation-free supply chains for a number of years. I emphasized further (though it did not show up in this piece) that we need to look beyond regulation and companies' direct supply chains if we want truly address deforestation, climate change, and #biodiversity #conservation. We need to take a landscape approach in order to improve the livelihoods of smallholders (especially the majority who are not linked to companies' supply chains), maintain and improve the ecological integrity of the landscape, and contribute to sustainable commodity supplies in the future. Wildlife Conservation Society

🌍 What if the Amazon’s destruction is costing farmers more than they realize? Deforestation isn’t just an environmental tragedy—it’s an economic disaster. As the Amazon’s ancient forests vanish, Brazilian farmers are facing hotter, drier conditions that are slashing crop yields and revenues. 🌡️ In some regions, rainfall during crop seasons has dropped by up to 40%, and temperatures have soared by 2.5°C, leading to devastating financial losses. Without trees, the natural moisture cycle collapses. Rainy seasons are delayed by months, harvests shrink, and profits evaporate. If deforestation continues, farmers could lose up to $1 billion annually by 2050. But here’s the real question: Can we afford to ignore the science that shows reforestation as a pathway to recovery? Replanting in key regions could bring rain back, stabilize the climate, and restore farming potential. The stakes are clear: sustainable farming practices aren’t just a choice—they’re essential for survival. 💡 How can agriculture evolve to balance productivity with preservation? Is it time to rethink the way we grow? #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Agriculture #Deforestation