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Deforestation in the Amazon — [Mr Philip Hollobone in the Chair]
05 January 2022
Lead MP
Chris Grayling
Epsom and Ewell
Con
Responding Minister
Vicky Ford
Tags
EconomyClimateAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Word Count: 13010
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Chris Grayling raised concerns about deforestation in the amazon — [mr philip hollobone in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr Grayling urges the Minister and her colleagues to criticise Brazil for not acting against deforestation. He calls for detailed plans on imposing punitive tariffs on forest risk products if countries like Brazil continue with extensive clearances, and requests no trade agreements while these activities persist.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Chris Grayling is concerned about the increasing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Despite progress made seven years ago, last year saw the highest level of deforestation for 20 years. Two measures before the Brazilian Senate threaten to further legalise illegal land grabs and reduce checks on environmental impact assessments, potentially leading to up to 16,000 sq km of forest loss over five years and exposing more areas to clearance.
Andrew Selous
Con
Carole Valley
Stressed the importance of addressing deforestation in the Amazon, highlighting that it is a global issue impacting the fate of our planet. He noted that more than half of tropical forests worldwide have been destroyed over the last 60 years and mentioned the need for financial backing to combat illegal deforestation. Andrew Selous also called for better enforcement of commitments made at COP26 and suggested creating a global equivalent of the Fairtrade Foundation logo for products not contributing to deforestation.
Chris Law
SNP
Dundee Central
He noted that deforestation in the Amazon has increased despite previous debates, highlighting a rise of 22% over the past year. He criticised the Bolsonaro regime for its actions and lack of enforcement against illegal activities. Law also pointed out that Brazil is considering Bills which would legalise land grabbing and weaken environmental protections, contrary to international commitments made at COP26.
Fabian Hamilton
Lab
Leeds North East
He expressed concern over the worsening situation in the Amazon since the last debate, highlighting road building and legislative changes as major threats. He emphasized the importance of the UK pressuring Brazil to halt deforestation immediately and before any trade agreements are made.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon expressed concern about the ongoing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and highlighted its environmental and ecological impacts. He mentioned that recent data shows a 15-year high in deforestation with 13,235 sq km of forest lost between August 2020 and July 2021. Shannon also noted Northern Ireland's status as the second most deforested part of Europe and called for increased pressure on Brazil to halt continuous deforestation.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
McCarthy highlighted the devastating impact of deforestation in the Amazon on climate and biodiversity, noting that it is a net emitter of carbon due to relentless clearing. She called for more action from developed nations like Brazil and advocated for green finance mechanisms such as blue bonds to help countries preserve their natural resources. McCarthy criticised the Environment Act 2021's limitations and urged for stronger provisions addressing deforestation when secondary legislation comes forward. She also expressed concern about UK trade deals with Australia, given its poor record on deforestation. Will the Minister explain the logic of putting British money into such projects but allowing Bolsonaro other things? That is a pittance compared to what is happening on the negative side. Is it not just throwing away our money, when we could achieve far more if we were able to stop the deforestation that is happening elsewhere in the country?
Neil Parish
Con
Tiverton and Honiton
My argument with the Brazilians is twofold: not only is there deforestation, but they are not making good use of the land when farming it. They deplete soil fertility and move on to other land. Mr Parish expressed concern over Brazil's deforestation, noting that an area twice the size of Devon was deforested in a single year. He cited data showing significant loss of rainforest from 1990 to 2016 and recent deforestation rates in the Amazon. Mr Parish highlighted the importance of maintaining current tree cover, biodiversity support, and indigenous communities' rights. He welcomed UK Government actions but urged for stronger measures against illegal deforestation through due diligence on supply chains and pressure on financial institutions. He intervened to call for pressure on British banks funding illegal deforestation, despite commitments from other financial institutions to stop doing so.
Government Response
Vicky Ford
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I add my words of thanks and gratefulness to my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) for securing a second debate on this important topic. The importance of protecting the Amazon cannot be overstated, and we must tackle both climate change and biodiversity loss. Tackling deforestation is critical to both those issues, which is why it was at the heart of the UK's COP26 presidency. Around 17% of the Amazon has already been lost, with unchecked deforestation potentially reaching a tipping point in the next decade. The UK committed £1.5 billion to the global forest finance pledge and will invest up to £300 million towards tackling deforestation and delivering green growth in the Amazon by 2025. At COP26, financial institutions with more than $8.7 trillion of global assets pledged to eliminate investment in activities linked to deforestation, while 12 companies managing half of all global trade in commodities linked to deforestation announced roadmaps for action. The UK is working on projects like the forest, agriculture and commodity trade dialogue (FACT) to protect forests while promoting sustainable development and trade. Since 2012, the UK has invested more than £60 million in Brazil through the low-carbon agriculture programme known as Rural Sustentável, which promotes agricultural technologies such as integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems. The minister also mentioned that the recent deforestation numbers are deeply concerning and deforestation in the Amazon basin increased by 20% in the last year. She noted that it is absolutely vital for both the prosperity of the Brazilian people and for the protection of the environment that those promises made at COP are turned into reality.
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Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.