Auteur moral

Fonds mondial pour la nature. Section (France)

Auteur secondaire

Résumé

"A new research commissioned by WWF shows the true scale of global deforestation linked to everyday products consumed in the EU - and the numbers are startling. Between 2021 and 2023, EU demand for commodities such as soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, leather, rubber, and industrial roundwood was responsible for the destruction of 149 million trees worldwide: the equivalent of 100 trees lost every minute. With the EUDR facing renewed political pressure and further potential delays, this new data underscores the urgent need for strong implementation without weakening or postponement."

Editeur

WWF

Descripteur Urbamet

Descripteur écoplanete

consommation des ménages ;consommation responsable ;consommation d'énergie ;impact sur l'environnement

Thème

Economie ;Environnement - Paysage ;Ressources - Nuisances

Texte intégral

MEDIA BRIEFING November 2025 New WWF analysis: A hundred trees lost every minute due to EU consumption New research commissioned by WWF EU reveals that EU consumption of soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, industrial roundwood, cattle meat and products, and rubber led to the clearing of 149 million trees worldwide between 2021 and 2023. This averages to a hundred trees lost every minute due to EU demand, totalling nearly 50 million trees annually. The EU deforestation regulation would prevent that from happening in the future. Specifically, chocolate consumption is linked to the loss of more than 10 million trees each year, while beef and leather contribute to another 10 million. EU palm oil use results in the removal of over 6 million trees annually. Additionally, over 6.4 million trees are destroyed yearly through soy used in animal feed, which ends up in foods like fish, cheese, and eggs. Even EU coffee consumption accounts for more than 3 million trees lost each year. All of this could end in less than 45 days if the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) comes into effect. To access the EU market, products must comply with the laws of their country of origin and must prove that the land used has not been deforested since December 2020. Germany ?eats? the most trees overall, the Netherlands does so per capita The data estimates the footprint of end products consumed in each EU country, giving a good representation of where the final consumption footprint lies after trade and transformation along sometimes complex supply chains. German consumption leads to the definitive loss of 13 million trees per year on average (36,678 ha), followed by Spain (6.5 Mio trees, 17,516 ha) and France (6.3 Mio trees, 17,385 ha). Data for 2023, Spain hectares of deforestation linked to consumption Data for 2023, France hectares of deforestation linked to consumption Data for 2023, Germany hectares of deforestation linked to consumption Countries in comparison 98 135 112 91 142 156 153 272 99 50 47 121 177 58 27 67 48 26 82 32 At individual or per capita level, it is the Dutch consumers that unwittingly ?eat? most trees per year in everyday products - 272 trees per 1000 citizens annually, followed by Luxembourg (226 trees / 1000 citizens annually) and Finland (177 trees per 1000 citizens annually). Denmark, who currently holds the Council Presidency, has an overall tree footprint of 0.8 Mio trees annually, and a per capita footprint of 141 trees per 1000 citizens, ranking 12th and 7th respectively. 32 43 Carbon emissions, the cost of a one-year delay to EU deforestation regulation To extract this data, we explored the carbon emissions each importing EU Member State is responsible for emitting with its purchases, looking at typical volumes of EUDR commodities traded between producing and importing countries. To put this in perspective, for the Netherlands, these additional imported emissions due to the delay of EUDR are equivalent to about 4% of the country?s total consumption-based emissions. The cumulative avoided greenhouse gas emissions from EUDR implementation up to 2035 would be 387 million tonnes considering forecasted increasing imports, the equivalent of permanently shutting down around eight major coal plants. For the EU as a whole, a one-year delay to the EU deforestation regulation could amount to 16.8 million tonnes of imported greenhouse gas emissions. It would be like if all residents of London flew to New York three times a year. The overall number of carbon emissions is likely to be higher, considering the increase in imports foreseen based on historic trends, and could amount to an additional 17.4 million tonnes CO2e of imported greenhouse gas emissions. *Data obtained by WWF US in partnership with AdAstra Sustainability, a solutions provider that has published open data on land use change emissions. Data for 2026, additional imported greenhouse gas emissions due to 1 year EUDR delay European Commission proposes the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The #Together4Forests campaign mobilises 1.2 million citizens, calling for a strong EU anti-deforestation law. December 2020 EU leaders strike a final deal, sealing the Regulation. Governments of major exporters (e.g., Indonesia, Brazil) and EU member states (led by Austria, Luxembourg) voice opposition, call for delays, opposing the law. EUDR enters into force. June 2023 2023 - 2025 European Commission quietly launches ?Call for Evidence? on reducing administrative burdens within environmental laws. EUDR deadline for application is delayed for one year. July 2025 Application deadline for medium and large companies. EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall notifies Parliament and the Danish Presidency of plans to push back the law once more, blaming ?IT problems?. Application deadline for micro and small businesses. November 2021 December 2022 December 2024 September 2025 EUDR TIMELINE & Milestones June 2026 December 2025 October 2025 EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall presents a new EC proposal on EUDR, which includes simplification procedures and a six-month penalty delay.