Your excellencies,
we, the European Grandparents for Climate, have read with disbelief and irritation that the European Commission proposes to postpone the law on deforestation for a year, giving in to political and economic pressure. We find it incomprehensible that the protecting of the still existing forests does not seem to enjoy absolute priority.
We all have seen the multiple climate extremes that have taken place this year. Forest fires have destroyed large swaths of forest in Northern America and in Southern Europe. In Germany drought has thwarted forests’ ability to reduce CO-2 in the air. So the number of trees has already been diminished by catastrophes caused by climate change.
Yet, we all know the vital role that trees have in reducing the amount of CO2 in the air. So any reduction in the number of trees does further harm to the climate. Private citizens are asked to finance the planting of trees as a measure to protect the climate while large corporations with great financial power are allowed to continue plundering this common good. This is not only clearly against the interest of the large majority of people. It is also happening in spite of the zero deforestation pledge at the UN COP26 signed by many governments including those of the European Union. Time is pressing on this issue and a delay of another year would see the disappearance of again too much forest.
Right now, the worst storm in history is battering the Southeastern Coast of the United States immediately after another extreme storm has already laid waste to it. The chance of such an occurrence up to now has been 1:1000000. A lower amount of CO2 in the air would have lessened the storms’ strength.
As Erin D. Matson from the research group „Climate Focus“ rightly says: „We can’t rely on voluntary efforts - they have made very little progress over the last decade.“ Therefore the responsibility of preserving the forests lies with the political powers and they should stick to the good legislation decided on and not cave in to economic pressure. How else can we trust that climate protection is seriously intended and does have the priority it absolutely deserves? We therefore urge the MEPs and the national governments to veto the postponement of this hugely important step in the fight against climate degradation.
Godela von Kirchbach Eva Riemer Vienna, October 14th, 2024
Co-chairs European Grandparents for Climate
