Julian backs Environment Bill amendments to fight deforestation
May 25, 2021
Today, Julian has added his name to proposed amendments to the new draft environment law, to create tough new requirements to tackle deforestation overseas in regions like the Amazon.
The Environment Bill creates British replacements for the EU environmental rules and regulation structures that we have left as part of the Brexit process, and creates a legal framework for the government’s plan to preserve and improve the UK’s natural environment.
The amendments, proposed by Julian’s Conservative colleague Neil Parish, Chair of Parliament’s Environment Select Committee on which he serves, would ban UK financial institutions from providing financial assistance to businesses engaged in illegal deforestation, and mandate that forest commodities can only be used if they have been extracted with the free and informed consent of indigenous peoples.
Illegal deforestation destroys emissions-absorbing rainforest, therefore worsening the impact of climate change, and also devastates the livelihoods and homes of indigenous people. Deforestation in the Amazon last year was at a 12-year high, with over 11,000 square kilometres lost. It is vital British law prevents economic activity here supporting these practices, however accidentally, and it has been reported UK businesses, including some well-know high street banks, had invested £5 billion between 2013-2019 in companies that were found to have illegally deforested land.
The next stage of the Bill in the House of Commons is tomorrow Wednesday, and Julian’s signature will help ensure these amendments are more likely to be considered for debate, as there is clear support from MPs.
Julian said: “Climate change and preserving nature is a global challenge, so I felt it was important to add my support as destroying the vital rainforest carbon sink and the lands of indigenous communities will ultimately impact us here in York too.
I have long been concerned by the environmental damage from importing food made on cleared rainforest land, rather than by our own environmentally-conscious, high-standards farmers, so think we really need these new measures to ban UK businesses from using forest products extracted without local consent, or for financing illegal deforestation.
I expect the government to consider these proposed changes very seriously in the Commons tomorrow, and adopt them as a useful enhancement of their existing proposals in this important area.”
