The Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest tropical forest, is vital for Earth’s climate, absorbing carbon and regulating weather. It harbors rich biodiversity and supports millions. Yet, it's under threat—17% has been lost to deforestation, and 38% shows signs of degradation. Scientists warn that losing 20–25% could trigger irreversible collapse. Most cleared land becomes pasture or cropland, with pastures occupying 77% of deforested areas in 2020.
As COP30 approaches, leaders must act to end deforestation. However, the recent EU-Mercosur trade deal (with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) undermines this goal. The deal:
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Encourages more trade in agricultural commodities without strong deforestation safeguards;
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Weakens enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR);
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Sets a harmful precedent for deals with other forested nations like Indonesia and Malaysia.
To protect the Amazon and other threatened biomes in Mercosur countries, and to uphold Indigenous rights and global climate goals, policymakers must reject this deal and ensure strict EUDR enforcement by end-2025.
This briefing illustrates the expected effects of certain provisions of the EU-Mercosur deal on
the implementation and enforcement of the EUDR and, potentially, on other EU environmental
legislation.
The briefing is supported by a broad alliance of organizations, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Europe, and many others. A full list can be found at the end of the briefing.
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