A report commissioned by the French government on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, to be presented to French Prime Minister today shows that solely the expansion of beef production in the Mercosur region as a result of the deal would accelerate deforestation by at least 25% annually and destroy 36,000 km2 of forest per year, which equals nearly the size of the Netherlands [1].
This figure does not even include the additional areas of crops needed to feed livestock or the expansion of sugar cane.
The report concludes that taking deforestation into account, the climate costs would outweigh the economic benefits: “the economic balance, once the potential climate damage is deducted, would be negative” [2]. It is also stated that the agreement will have a minimal impact on the real income of European citizens, implying that the deal would mainly benefit a few corporations, while environment and climate impacts would be borne by the general public.
“The EU-Mercosur agreement is incompatible with Europe’s Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. EU leaders should put the deal on ice and renegotiate it on the basis of a mandate that reflects the climate emergency as well as the need to save the Amazon rainforest and its peoples” reacted Trade and Climate Project Manager at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Cornelia Maarfield.
A briefing by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe shows how Europe is already complicit in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Amazon deforestation has soared by 34% in the past 12 months [3]. The fires are intentionally started to clear land for the expansion of agriculture. Currently, about a fifth of beef and soy exports from Brazil to the EU are directly contributing to deforestation [4].
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement would increase the trade in commodities that are driving deforestation, including beef and soy. The deal thus risks aggravating the Amazon fires and the impact of European consumption behavior on deforestation.
Maarfield added: “While the Commission has tabled a significant increase of the EU’s 2030 climate target to 55% cuts, now is the time to align all EU policies including trade with the new goal. We cannot be in a situation where we reduce emissions at home and conclude trade agreements that increase emissions abroad and thus further worsen the biodiversity and climate crises.”
ENDS
Contact:
Nicolas Derobert, Head of communications, nicolas@caneurope.org, +32 483 62 18 88
Notes to editors:
[1] The report estimates that at least 53,000 tons of beef will be exported to the EU per year. Since the EU mainly imports high quality cuts such as sirloin steaks, the report estimates that the area needed to rear the heads of cattle required to produce these high-quality cuts amounts to 3,6 million hectares annually, which would result in an increase of 25% in deforestation per year. See Report of the Ambec Commission, page 133.
[2] Report of the Ambec Commission, page 141.
[3] Our media briefing “Mercosur – EU Trade Agreement: What can the EU do to end its complicity in the Amazon fires?”
[4] There has been a 34% increase in deforestation alerts in the Brazilian Amazon in the past 12 months (Aug 2019 – Jul 2020) compared to the same period in 2018/19. Source: Brazil’s National Space Research Institute INPE.
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 170 member organisations active in 38 European countries, representing over 1.500 NGOs and more than 47million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.
