Fern NGO

🌲 #Wood demand is increasing - for energy, materials, chemicals and more - despite #forests being under increasing strain. The supply gap is already huge: there is not enough wood for all industries planning to use it.  Fern commissioned scientists Ragnar Jonsson and Maximilian Schulte from SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences to evaluate the respective benefits of using wood for #insulation and #fuel as wood pellets. The results are clear. Over a 35-year period, using wood for insulation rather than fuel:  ➡️ uses nine times less wood and releases 21 times less greenhouse gases ➡️ improves air quality, lowers fire risk and reduces the use of toxic synthetic petrol-based insulation  ➡️ remains 16% more expensive than burning wood, even after 70 years of use Redirecting #bioenergy subsidies to support #EU residents to insulate their homes would reduce air pollution and #GHG emissions, while offering comparable heat benefits. Read the study here: https://lnkd.in/ewN9iWKp

The European Commission has released its new #EU Vision on #Food and #Agriculture. It overwhelmingly focuses on what is happening on #farms and ignores almost every other part of the food sector. It also largely overlooks crucial players including the large food companies who shape every aspect of the agri-food sector, as well as consumers who are struggling to access healthy food. “European diets are fundamentally shaped by an industrial food system that makes it hard for people to choose healthy, sustainable food,” responds Julia Christian, our Forests and Agriculture Policy Adviser. ❝Instead of supporting measures to encourage consumers to eat more vegetables, pulses and fruits—such as a dedicated EU Plant-Based Action Plan—the Commission has focused almost exclusively on agricultural production, missing the bigger picture of food system reform.❞ Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2RaeD3s

The #EU needs more equitable and fair #trade partnerships, based on solidarity and cooperation. Not deals that rest on exploitation, extractivism and resource grabs.  🇮🇩 As negotiators rush to finalise the #Indonesia-EU free-trade agreement (#CEPA), 120+ civil society organisations and trade unions have signed a joint statement, warning that the agreement threatens the #environment, the #climate, and the rights of women, Indigenous Peoples, workers, small farmers and fisherfolk.  What’s at stake? ⚠️ Irresponsible #mining driven by rising demand for #CriticalRawMaterials - leading to over-exploitation, extraction of natural resources and devastating environmental and social consequences  ⚠️ Lack of added-value, undermining Indonesia’s industrial development   ⚠️ Corporate protections for the supply of #CriticalMinerals in Indonesia, undermining Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ rights and welfare   We call on the European Union and the Indonesian government to stop the negotiations, and shift towards a truly equitable partnership, one that does not force Indonesia to liberalise its raw material exports or give up sovereignty to set prices. The EU must show willingness to support Indonesia to achieve sustainable economic development.  Read our full joint statement 👉 https://lnkd.in/eRVJbz_h Kathleen Van Brempt Marina Mesure Catarina Vieira Bart Groothuis Bernd Lange Maroš Šefčovič Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (CANSEA) EU Raw Materials Coalition European Coordination Via Campesina Friends of the Earth Europe Publish What You Pay Regions Refocus SIRGE Coalition Transnational Institute

📢  Scientists urge #EU to preserve satellite monitoring in new forest law    Experts in #Earth Observation have written to the European Union to highlight the importance of remote sensing in monitoring European #forests, such as the EU’s new Forest Monitoring Law (FML).    Signed by 78 experts, the open letter outlines recent advances in #satellite monitoring and explains how they can be used in conjunction with ground-gathered data to deliver timely and comparable information across #Europe. Such data would help the EU deliver on plans to adapt to #ClimateChange, advance the #bioeconomy, and simplify reporting obligations.    The signatories are concerned about how the proposed FML has been received by the Council of the European Union and European Parliament, and fear that both parties may use recent articles challenging the accuracy of remote sensing as an excuse to scrap or limit its use in the FML. They explain that Earth Observation is always meant to be supplemented with ground-truthing.    Although some FML critics argue that it increases bureaucracy, harmonised data actually reduces reporting obligations. Rather than increasing red tape, the FML reduces it while meeting agreed targets and aims. Fern is glad to see that experts are actively challenging the spread of false concerns.     ❝We are ready to collaborate with policymakers, forest managers, and other stakeholders to develop and implement an efficient and integrated forest monitoring framework.❞    Read the full letter here: https://lnkd.in/eGgt97kP 

Next week, the European Commission will unveil its Vision for Food and Agriculture. This is a defining moment. Will the #EU rise to the challenge and set a course for a food system that is fair, resilient and sustainable? Or will we get more of the same — policies that fail farmers, consumers and #nature? The #StrategicDialogue made one thing clear: business as usual is not an option. The Vision must reflect this and commit to:  ✅ Supporting #farmers in the transition to climate-resilient, nature-friendly #agriculture  ✅ Ensuring healthy, sustainable food is accessible to all  ✅ Strengthening local food economies and fair supply chains  ✅ Protecting #biodiversity and soil health for future generations    Commissioner Christophe Hansen, there is no time to waste in accelerating the transition towards sustainable #FoodSystems.    Read our open letter here: https://lnkd.in/eK_jtPxP     #OneHealth #FoodFuture #GoodFood4EU #EUagriculture EU Food Policy Coalition Fabien Santini Jessika Roswall Raffaele Fitto Wopke Hoekstra

Last week’s #Nutrition as #Prevention event - hosted by Members of the European Parliament Tilly Metz, Manuela Ripa, Laurent Castillo and Biljana Borzan – discussed healthier diets and #PublicHealth in the #EU. Our campaigner Julia Christian spoke about the policy opportunity presented by #ReadyMeals. Too often, agri-food conversations solely focus on maximising production, without considering the harmful #health and #environmental impacts of #EU food consumption. ❝ When talking about food reformulation, we need to talk about ready-made meals, because 15 to 20% of our calories come from them. ❞ Placing legal requirements on the content of these meals would: 🩺 Reduce nearly all the diet-linked disease drivers in Europe, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity. This would in turn reduce rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, liver disease and diabetes.   🌳 Result in significant carbon emissions reductions: it would cut emissions from ready meals in half, driving down emissions by between 40 and 50 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.   💰 Save EU consumers €2.8 billion every year, because it would reduce expensive ingredient costs. Read more about regulating ready-made meals here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dMhi8X6v  #MakeReadyMealsHealthier Madre Brava European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation BirdLife Europe and Central Asia Eurogroup for Animals PAN International - Physicians Association for Nutrition Federación de Consumidores y Usuarios CECU European Environmental Bureau Adiconsum Nazionale KLUG - Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit DECO - Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection

🆕 This year's first edition of #ForestWatch is here! 🇦🇷🇧🇷🇵🇾🇺🇾 The renegotiated #EU #Mercosur Agreement includes a new “rebalancing mechanism” that would allow the Latin American countries to ask for compensation if their #trade flows are impacted by EU unilateral policies. The #EUDR appears to have become a bargaining chip for forested countries signing free trade agreements with the EU, writes Pierre-Jean Sol Brasier. This new mechanism is likely to create a precedent for other ongoing trade negotiations. 🇪🇸 Over 100,000 individuals hit the streets of Santiago de Compostela in December to protest plans to build a new pulp mill in Galicia, #Spain. The European Commission has an opportunity to show citizens that it will remain vigilant where EU funding is involved, argues Siim Kuresoo, particularly if the project seeks funding from NextGenerationEU, which aims to build a clean, innovative and inclusive #economy. 🇮🇹 Porsche AG expansion plans for the Nardò Technical Centre, which runs through the Bosco d’Arneo, a nature protection site in #Italy, were suspended after residents mobilised against the destruction of over 200+ hectares of the protected forest. However, Porsche has not yet committed to sparing the forest, and silence from local authorities is worrisome, write Martin Pigeon, Jana Ballenthien and Custodi del Bosco d'Arneo. 🇱🇷 The EU’s plan to unilaterally terminate its Voluntary Partnership Agreement with #Liberia threatens hard-won gains, says Jonathan Yiah of the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI). The move would damage the West African nation’s fight against #ClimateChange. Read more and sign up 👇   https://lnkd.in/e9wPYR9P  🔗 Links to the articles in the first comment!

The #EU Deforestation Regulation can be an important tool for reducing the destruction of #forests and ending #HumanRights infringements. Companies in the palm oil sector have raised concerns that the #EUDR might exclude smallholders from the #SupplyChain, while others see the Regulation’s application as an opportunity. 🇮🇩  So, how will the EUDR impact palm oil smallholders in #Indonesia? Based on interviews with companies, NGO experts and Indonesian palm oil smallholders, our latest briefing comes to two striking conclusions: ➡️ Indonesian palm oil smallholders are unlikely to be heavily impacted by the EUDR because they already have very little access to the EU market, due to their struggle to meet private certification requirements.  ➡️ The main challenge is not how to keep these smallholders in the EU market but how to support their access to it. Read the full briefing here: https://lnkd.in/gkzY6BKs

We are delighted to support the #Nutrition as #Prevention event on healthier diets and #PublicHealth in the #EU. Our campaigner Julia Christian will speak about the #OneHealth approach and the policy opportunity presented by #ReadyMeals to significantly reduce the harmful #health and environmental impacts of #EU food consumption. 🗓️ 4 February 2025  🕙 10.00-12.00 CET  📍 European Parliament Brussels & online Hosted by Members of the European Parliament Tilly Metz, Manuela Ripa, Laurent Castillo and Biljana Borzan, the panel will also include Ariane Vander Stappen of DG SANTE, Milka Sokolović of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Wendy Walrabenstein of the PAN International - Physicians Association for Nutrition, Els Bedert of EuroCommerce and Danilo Lo-Fo-Wong of the World Health Organization. Register to attend here 👉 https://bit.ly/40KqfQN     Read our report on regulating ready-made meals here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dMhi8X6v     #MakeReadyMealsHealthier Madre Brava BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) BirdLife Europe and Central Asia Eurogroup for Animals PAN International - Physicians Association for Nutrition Federación de Consumidores y Usuarios CECU European Environmental Bureau Adiconsum Nazionale KLUG - Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit DECO - Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection

The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (#EUDR) is only as good as its implementation. Under the #EUDR, countries will be benchmarked as low, standard or high-risk based on the likelihood that their timber, palm oil, soy and other commodities are linked to #deforestation. The European Commission’s benchmarking methodology must uphold the law’s ambitions and reflect human rights and deforestation risks. In a joint letter with 39 other organisations, including Earthsight Human Rights Watch ClientEarth and Rainforest Foundation Norway, we call on the Commission to:  👉 Consider human rights violations and risks of illegality from the outset for all countries when deciding on risk ratings, including for countries with low deforestation or forest degradation rates  👉 Avoid using UN sanctions as the sole criteria to determine whether a country or area is high risk  👉 Consider forest degradation alongside deforestation  👉 Examine production trends for all commodities covered by the EUDR  👉 Prevent trade agreements from neutralising measurable risks of deforestation, illegality, and rights violations Read our joint letter here: https://lnkd.in/drmiAjAt   Teresa Ribera Maroš Šefčovič Jessika Roswall Jozef Sikela Ursula von der Leyen