#palmoilbiofuel — Public Fediverse posts
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Biofuel Boom in Brazil: Green Growth or Greenwash?
Brazil’s booming biofuel industry is hailed as a solution to climate change, yet its rapid expansion comes at a cost. The push for bioethanol and biodiesel production is driving deforestation, threatening food security, and displacing communities. As Brazil positions itself as a leader in bioenergy, concerns grow over the environmental and social impacts of this industry, spotlighting the need for genuine solutions. 🌿 #Biofuel #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateActionNow #Boycott4WildlifeThe #biofuel boom in #Brazil made from #palmoil and #soy is touted as a #climate saviour. Yet in reality, biofuel #deforestation is causing #food insecurity, #indigenous land-grabbing and #ecocide #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🛢️🔥⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social
Share to BlueSkyWritten by Monica Piccinini for The Canary, republished with author permission. Read original.
Brazil’s push to expand biofuels is central to its strategy to “drive the decarbonisation agenda” and build a robust “bioeconomy,” setting the stage for this to become a major focus at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Brazil in November 2025.
Brazil’s biofuel ‘revolution’
During a ceremony at the Brasilia Air Base in October, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared:
Brazil will lead the world’s energy revolution
This statement came as he signed the Fuel of the Future Law, a set of initiatives aimed at advancing the country’s bioenergy sector. Lula added:
Brazil will get a head start because you, the entrepreneurs, who have the capacity to produce, to research. Enacting this law demonstrates that none of us have the right to continue disbelieving that this country can be a large economy,” added Lula.
Lula announced a rise in ethanol blending with gasoline from 22% to 27%, with a target of 35% by 2030. Biodiesel blending, currently at 14%, will increase by one percentage point annually, aiming to reach 20% by March 2030.
Biofuel mandates have generated a relentless demand for crops, including sugarcane, corn, soybean, and palm oil.
Ethanol and biodiesel production in Brazil reached nearly 43bn litres in 2023, according to the 2024 Brazilian Statistical Yearbook on Oil, Natural Gas, and Biofuels, published by Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP).
Biofuels for energy independence
In Brazil, biofuels make up 25% of transportation fuels – a remarkably high share compared to other nations – and this proportion is still increasing. Bioethanol leads the biofuel sector, representing an average of 49% in terms of energy of the total gasoline and ethanol consumption.
Jorge Ernesto Rodriguez Morales, lecturer and researcher in environmental policy and climate change governance at the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University, spoke to the Canary. He mentioned:
Historically, Brazilian energy policy has achieved significant success, largely due to the development of the oil industry alongside biofuels and other energy sources. This diversification has enabled Brazil to rely less on energy imports from the global market, fostering a degree of energy independence and security critical for economic stability.
He added that:
By reducing dependence on external energy sources, Brazil’s economy is less vulnerable to external shocks, such as fluctuations in oil and gas prices. Sugarcane ethanol, in particular, has been pivotal in these developments, positioning bioenergy – a renewable energy form derived from recently living organic materials known as biomass – at the forefront of national strategies to combat climate change.
Green sheen
Although bioenergy has been promoted as a climate strategy, there is ongoing debate within the scientific community regarding the actual sustainability of biofuel production.
Some scientists argue that the production of biofuels is an energy-negative process that may lead to various socio-environmental consequences. These include rising food prices that threaten food security and the conversion of forestlands for biofuel cultivation. Some state that presenting bioenergy as a climate strategy has served as a justification for the industry’s expansion in Brazil and globally.
Morales explained that:
Despite its success, the biofuels industry in Brazil developed within broader developmental and territorial security goals, often placing significant pressure on ecosystems and communities in an institutional environment that generally overlooked socio-environmental concerns. This unsustainable co-evolution of development pathways and bioenergy – marked by deforestation, land colonization, and agricultural expansion – has limited the adaptation space in agriculture. As a result, current climate policy is largely oriented toward path-dependent and potentially maladaptive strategies, such as relying on sugarcane ethanol for transportation.
A report by the Royal Society raises concerns about expanding biofuel production, highlighted issues such as the impact on food prices, the potential rise in greenhouse gas emissions due to direct and indirect land use changes (LUC) associated with biofuel feedstock production, and the risks of land, forest, water resource, and ecosystem degradation.
The Royal Society report recommends comprehensive auditing of biofuel supply chains as essential, along with enhancing transparency, data availability, and sharing. These elements are crucial for ensuring that the life cycle assessment (LCA) of biofuels is reliable and beneficial for policymaking.
Demand driving deforestation
The use of feedstocks like sugarcane, palm oil, corn, and soybean – predominant in Brazil – has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to competition with food production and concerns about converting agricultural land into fuel production. Rising demand for agricultural products poses a risk of increased deforestation and the use of land with high biodiversity value to satisfy this demand, along with related freshwater consumption.
The EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) identifies soybean as one of the world’s leading drivers of deforestation. Trade interests appear to be the main barrier to removing soy biofuels from the Renewable Energy Directive, as Europe imports nearly 90% of its soy for biodiesel production from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
Dr David Pimentel, a professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, asserted that there is insufficient land, water, and energy available for biofuel production. He also highlighted environmental issues associated with converting crops into biofuels, such as water pollution from fertilisers and pesticides, air pollution, soil erosion, and contributions to global warming.
Pimentel conducted calculations that accounted for all the inputs needed to produce ethanol, including machinery, seeds, labour, water, electricity, fertilisers, insecticides, herbicides, fuel, drying, and transportation. He found that producing one litre of fuel-grade ethanol (5,130 kcal) requires an energy input of 6,600 kcal, indicating that biofuel production is an energy-negative process.
‘Serious socio-economic impacts’
A report published in the Biofuel journal states that measuring greenhouse gas emissions linked to ethanol fuel should account for emissions at every stage, including production, processing, distribution, and vehicle use. This comprehensive assessment is known as the core well-to-wheels LCA emissions, along with any additional emissions resulting from LUC.
Morales discussed some of the impacts of implementing a climate policy that relies on biomass fuels. He told the Canary:
Current climate policy positions biomass-based fuels as a replacement for fossil fuels in the transport sector, with sugarcane ethanol as a flagship solution for greenhouse gas reduction in international climate negotiations. However, scaling up bioenergy production can have serious socio-environmental impacts.
He added that:
Like food production, ethanol requires land, water, and nutrients, meaning that a large-scale expansion could intensify the negative side effects of agricultural growth. These include significant socio-environmental challenges related to sustainable development goals, such as deforestation (SDG 15), CO2 emissions from land-use change (SDG 13), nitrogen losses (SDGs 13, 14, 15), unsustainable water withdrawals (SDG 14), and food security risks (SDG 2), among others.
Brazil biofuel policies
During Brazil’s colonial period (1500-1822), sugarcane plantations established the basis for political power through land monopoly and slavery. Policies were implemented to promote the economic interests of the agribusiness sector.
In response to the energy and sugar crisis of the 70s, Brazil launched a national ethanol program called “Pró-Álcool” in 1975. This initiative included tax breaks, subsidies, and lower financing costs to benefit the sugarcane industry, including producers, planters, distillers, and the automotive sector.
The “Pró-Álcool” policy led to significant repercussions, such as the exploitation of workers (bóias-frias) and environmental degradation, which the Brazilian government neglected out of concern that environmental regulations might hinder economic growth and development.
From 1992 to 2004, while Brazil’s total greenhouse gas emissions rose by 80%, the government defended its support for ethanol on environmental grounds, positioning bioenergy as a “sustainable energy source.” This approach framed bioenergy as part of a climate strategy, leading to its promotion at international levels to combat climate change.
Overlooking indirect land use changes
However, the socio-environmental impacts of bioenergy production were largely overlooked, including direct and indirect LUC, water and biodiversity loss, deforestation, fertiliser pollution, and soil erosion.
In 2017, the “Renovabio” initiative was launched as a new government program aimed at promoting the growth of the bioenergy sector, with an emphasis on various types of biofuels, such as biodiesel, biomethane, bioethanol, and biokerosene.
A report published in the Biofuels journal indicates that Brazil’s RenovaBio programme does not account for direct or indirect LUC in its emissions calculator, potentially leading to an overestimation of decarbonisation levels and encouraging biofuel production with greater environmental impacts. To ensure the program is environmentally effective and delivers appropriate signals to decision-makers, it is crucial to incorporate LUC parameters into the calculator.
Morales mentioned that:
Brazil’s ethanol diplomacy aims to portray the nation as climate-conscious, using biofuel as leverage in climate negotiations. Many countries have followed Brazil’s ‘successful’ example by integrating bioenergy into their climate policies, even though its social and environmental costs are widely acknowledged.
Biofuel Expansion
Raízen, formed from the merger of Cosan and Shell, along with BP Bunge, Atvos, São Martinho, Tereos, Lincoln Junqueira, Cofco, Coruipe, Adecoagro, Katzen, Millenium, Brasil BioFuels (BBF), and Agropalma, represent some of the leading bioenergy companies in Brazil.
In October, Katzen International, a prominent bioethanol company, announced the successful completion and launch of the INPASA Agroindustrial S/A bioethanol plant expansion project in Sinop, Mato Grosso. This expansion boosted the plant’s production capacity to 2.1bn litres per year, establishing it as the largest grain-based dry mill bioethanol facility in the world.
Corn ethanol production in Brazil is projected to reach 7.7 billion litres in 2024/25, representing a 20% increase compared to previous years.
The biofuel industry is making significant investments in the state of Pará. Governor Helder Barbalho has announced plans for a biofuel refinery to be established in the municipality of Redenção, located in the southeastern part of the state. A collaboration between the Mafra Group and Companhia Mineira de Açúcar e Álcool (CMAA), which together comprise Grão Pará Bioenergia, will contribute over $350 million to this project.
Barbalho said that:
These are the agendas that will be challenging for us: the forest agenda, the energy production agenda. These are different agendas in which each one of them can present their solutions.
Alongside the refinery, a fattening service for cattle will be provided to partner ranchers, allowing them to use the refinery’s facilities for confining their animals. The primary feedstock for cattle confinement will be Dried Distillers Grain (DDG), a by-product of corn ethanol production.
Fueling conflicts
A report by NGO Imazon revealed that Pará accounted for 57% of the degraded forest areas in the Amazon. Forest degradation surged from 196 km² in September 2023 to 11,558 km² in the same month this year – nearly a 60-fold increase.
The state of Pará, which will host COP30, is marked by conflicts, including those related to the palm oil industry. Palm plantations in Pará cover an area that was once rainforest, approximately 226,834 hectares, nearly equivalent to the size of Luxembourg.
An investigation by the NGO Global Witness revealed that two major Brazilian palm oil companies, Agropalma and Brasil Biofuels (BBF), were implicated in conflicts with local communities in the state of Pará. BBF faced allegations of environmental crimes and violent efforts to suppress indigenous and traditional communities. Meanwhile, Agropalma was associated with community evictions and land grabbing.
A study by scientists Lucas Ferrante and Philip Fearnside revealed that biofuel companies, such as Millenium Bioenergia, are establishing a production chain for biofuels and food products derived from monocultures on Amazonian Indigenous lands and within other traditional communities.
Millenium announced plans to “partner” with Indigenous and traditional communities, proposing unpaid labour to produce corn, fish, chickens, pigs, and confined cattle. This approach not only infringes on human rights but also poses a risk of triggering new pandemics due to zoonotic leaps linked to environmental degradation.
Biofuels an exercise in greenwashing Brazil’s climate policy
Brazil must expand biofuel production to meet growing demand, which will increase logistical pressures nationwide. Critical to this expansion are infrastructure projects, such as the construction of highways like the Amazon’s BR-319, connecting Manaus to Porto Velho, and the Ferrogrão railway project, linking Sinop in Mato Grosso to the port of Miritituba, situated across the Tapajós River from Itaituba in Pará. These developments are likely to cause irreversible environmental degradation and adversely affect numerous indigenous and traditional communities in these areas.
Morales highlighted the Brazilian government’s position and priorities concerning the expansion of biofuel production:
In foreign environmental policy, the Brazilian government has historically been reluctant to prioritise environmental protection over economic growth, often attributing major environmental issues to developed countries. Although various administrations have made efforts to address environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change, these issues remain secondary concerns, frequently viewed as obstacles to short-term political and economic goals.
He added:
Positioning bioenergy as a climate strategy has effectively justified broader policies supporting the biofuel industry and contributed to the greenwashing of Brazil’s climate policy on the international stage. Several countries have mirrored Brazil’s approach, adopting bioenergy into their climate agendas in response.
Featured image via the Canary
Written by Monica Piccinini for The Canary, republished with author permission. Read original.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
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Keel-billed Toucans have dazzling rainbow-coloured bills and are iconic to South America. Threats include hunting, palm oil and meat deforestation. Take action!
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 3,177 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #airlinefuel #AmazonRainforest #auditFraud #aviation #biofuel #biofuels #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brazil #Climate #ClimateActionNow #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #EnvironmentalJustice #food #fossilFuels #fossilfuel #fraud #greenwashing #indigenous #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #SAF #soy -
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold | Researchers at Cornell University have developed a sustainable technique to extract gold from electronic waste and repurpose it as a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable organic compounds. This method addresses e-waste challenges and contributes to CO₂ reduction efforts. Help with the transition when you #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami
#News: Cornell researchers have developed a viable method to extract #gold from #ewaste. They can convert #CO2 into #gold, tackling both electronic waste and #GHG emissions. #BoycottGold @palmoildetect #BoycottGold4Yanomami https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9PR
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterCornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
In a groundbreaking study, Cornell University researchers have introduced an eco-friendly method to extract gold from electronic waste (e-waste) and utilize it as a catalyst for converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful organic materials. This dual-purpose approach offers a sustainable solution to two pressing environmental issues: e-waste accumulation and CO₂ emissions.
E-waste, comprising discarded electronic devices, is a rapidly growing environmental concern, with approximately 50 million tons generated annually worldwide. Notably, a ton of e-waste contains significantly more gold than a ton of mined ore, highlighting the potential for resource recovery. Traditional gold extraction methods involve hazardous chemicals like cyanide, posing environmental and health risks. The Cornell team’s method employs chemical adsorption using vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) to selectively capture 99.9% of gold ions and nanoparticles from e-waste without harmful substances.
Once recovered, the gold-loaded VCOFs serve as catalysts to transform CO₂—a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change—into valuable organic compounds. This process not only mitigates CO₂ levels but also produces materials beneficial for various industrial applications. Lead researcher Amin Zadehnazari emphasised the environmental and practical benefits of this approach, stating, “By transforming CO₂ into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”
This innovative method represents a significant advancement in technology, offering a promising avenue for addressing electronic waste and carbon emissions simultaneously. The research underscores the potential of integrating waste management with environmental remediation strategies to develop comprehensive solutions for global ecological challenges.
Cornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold
Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold addresses e-waste challenges and contributes to CO₂ reduction efforts. Take action and boycott gold for Yanomami people!
Read moreDo you love animals? Make every day #WorldWildlifeDay
This #WorldWildlifeDay take action for animals great and small! Reptiles insects, mammals and birds deserve better than palm oil ecocide and extinction. Make sure you Boycott palm oil
Read moreSo-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ however experts call it greenwashing and industry spin causing climate change. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Gursky’s spectral tarsiers AKA Wusing of North Sulawesi are vulnerable due to palm oil and timber deforestation. Take action for them and boycott palm oil!
Read moreForest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read more Load more postsSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami #CO2 #corruption #deforestation #ewaste #GHG #gold #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation -
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold | Researchers at Cornell University have developed a sustainable technique to extract gold from electronic waste and repurpose it as a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable organic compounds. This method addresses e-waste challenges and contributes to CO₂ reduction efforts. Help with the transition when you #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami
#News: Cornell researchers have developed a viable method to extract #gold from #ewaste. They can convert #CO2 into #gold, tackling both electronic waste and #GHG emissions. #BoycottGold @palmoildetect #BoycottGold4Yanomami https://wp.me/pcFhgU-6sX
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterCornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
In a groundbreaking study, Cornell University researchers have introduced an eco-friendly method to extract gold from electronic waste (e-waste) and utilize it as a catalyst for converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful organic materials. This dual-purpose approach offers a sustainable solution to two pressing environmental issues: e-waste accumulation and CO₂ emissions.
E-waste, comprising discarded electronic devices, is a rapidly growing environmental concern, with approximately 50 million tons generated annually worldwide. Notably, a ton of e-waste contains significantly more gold than a ton of mined ore, highlighting the potential for resource recovery. Traditional gold extraction methods involve hazardous chemicals like cyanide, posing environmental and health risks. The Cornell team’s method employs chemical adsorption using vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) to selectively capture 99.9% of gold ions and nanoparticles from e-waste without harmful substances.
Once recovered, the gold-loaded VCOFs serve as catalysts to transform CO₂—a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change—into valuable organic compounds. This process not only mitigates CO₂ levels but also produces materials beneficial for various industrial applications. Lead researcher Amin Zadehnazari emphasised the environmental and practical benefits of this approach, stating, “By transforming CO₂ into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”
This innovative method represents a significant advancement in technology, offering a promising avenue for addressing electronic waste and carbon emissions simultaneously. The research underscores the potential of integrating waste management with environmental remediation strategies to develop comprehensive solutions for global ecological challenges.
Cornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Do you love animals? Make every day #WorldWildlifeDay
This #WorldWildlifeDay take action for animals great and small! Reptiles insects, mammals and birds deserve better than palm oil ecocide and extinction. Make sure you Boycott palm oil
Read moreSo-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ however experts call it greenwashing and industry spin causing climate change. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Gursky’s spectral tarsiers AKA Wusing of North Sulawesi are vulnerable due to palm oil and timber deforestation. Take action for them and boycott palm oil!
Read moreForest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreBeautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
Critically endangered Phayre’s langurs and endangered capped langurs of Bangladesh, are interbreeding raising concerns about their survival, take action!
Read more Load more postsSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami #CO2 #corruption #deforestation #ewaste #GHG #gold #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation -
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold | Researchers at Cornell University have developed a sustainable technique to extract gold from electronic waste and repurpose it as a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable organic compounds. This method addresses e-waste challenges and contributes to CO₂ reduction efforts. Help with the transition when you #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami
#News: Cornell researchers have developed a viable method to extract #gold from #ewaste. They can convert #CO2 into #gold, tackling both electronic waste and #GHG emissions. #BoycottGold @palmoildetect #BoycottGold4Yanomami https://wp.me/pcFhgU-6sX
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterCornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
In a groundbreaking study, Cornell University researchers have introduced an eco-friendly method to extract gold from electronic waste (e-waste) and utilize it as a catalyst for converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful organic materials. This dual-purpose approach offers a sustainable solution to two pressing environmental issues: e-waste accumulation and CO₂ emissions.
E-waste, comprising discarded electronic devices, is a rapidly growing environmental concern, with approximately 50 million tons generated annually worldwide. Notably, a ton of e-waste contains significantly more gold than a ton of mined ore, highlighting the potential for resource recovery. Traditional gold extraction methods involve hazardous chemicals like cyanide, posing environmental and health risks. The Cornell team’s method employs chemical adsorption using vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) to selectively capture 99.9% of gold ions and nanoparticles from e-waste without harmful substances.
Once recovered, the gold-loaded VCOFs serve as catalysts to transform CO₂—a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change—into valuable organic compounds. This process not only mitigates CO₂ levels but also produces materials beneficial for various industrial applications. Lead researcher Amin Zadehnazari emphasised the environmental and practical benefits of this approach, stating, “By transforming CO₂ into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”
This innovative method represents a significant advancement in technology, offering a promising avenue for addressing electronic waste and carbon emissions simultaneously. The research underscores the potential of integrating waste management with environmental remediation strategies to develop comprehensive solutions for global ecological challenges.
Cornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Do you love animals? Make every day #WorldWildlifeDay
This #WorldWildlifeDay take action for animals great and small! Reptiles insects, mammals and birds deserve better than palm oil ecocide and extinction. Make sure you Boycott palm oil
Read moreSo-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ however experts call it greenwashing and industry spin causing climate change. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Gursky’s spectral tarsiers AKA Wusing of North Sulawesi are vulnerable due to palm oil and timber deforestation. Take action for them and boycott palm oil!
Read moreForest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreBeautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
Critically endangered Phayre’s langurs and endangered capped langurs of Bangladesh, are interbreeding raising concerns about their survival, take action!
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami #CO2 #corruption #deforestation #ewaste #GHG #gold #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation -
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold
Trash into Treasure: Turning E-Waste and CO2 into Gold | Researchers at Cornell University have developed a sustainable technique to extract gold from electronic waste and repurpose it as a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable organic compounds. This method addresses e-waste challenges and contributes to CO₂ reduction efforts. Help with the transition when you #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami
#News: Cornell researchers have developed a viable method to extract #gold from #ewaste. They can convert #CO2 into #gold, tackling both electronic waste and #GHG emissions. #BoycottGold @palmoildetect #BoycottGold4Yanomami https://wp.me/pcFhgU-6sX
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterCornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
In a groundbreaking study, Cornell University researchers have introduced an eco-friendly method to extract gold from electronic waste (e-waste) and utilize it as a catalyst for converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful organic materials. This dual-purpose approach offers a sustainable solution to two pressing environmental issues: e-waste accumulation and CO₂ emissions.
E-waste, comprising discarded electronic devices, is a rapidly growing environmental concern, with approximately 50 million tons generated annually worldwide. Notably, a ton of e-waste contains significantly more gold than a ton of mined ore, highlighting the potential for resource recovery. Traditional gold extraction methods involve hazardous chemicals like cyanide, posing environmental and health risks. The Cornell team’s method employs chemical adsorption using vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs) to selectively capture 99.9% of gold ions and nanoparticles from e-waste without harmful substances.
Once recovered, the gold-loaded VCOFs serve as catalysts to transform CO₂—a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change—into valuable organic compounds. This process not only mitigates CO₂ levels but also produces materials beneficial for various industrial applications. Lead researcher Amin Zadehnazari emphasised the environmental and practical benefits of this approach, stating, “By transforming CO₂ into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”
This innovative method represents a significant advancement in technology, offering a promising avenue for addressing electronic waste and carbon emissions simultaneously. The research underscores the potential of integrating waste management with environmental remediation strategies to develop comprehensive solutions for global ecological challenges.
Cornell University. (2025, January 2). New method turns e-waste to gold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250102162300.htm
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Do you love animals? Make every day #WorldWildlifeDay
This #WorldWildlifeDay take action for animals great and small! Reptiles insects, mammals and birds deserve better than palm oil ecocide and extinction. Make sure you Boycott palm oil
Read moreSo-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ however experts call it greenwashing and industry spin causing climate change. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Gursky’s spectral tarsiers AKA Wusing of North Sulawesi are vulnerable due to palm oil and timber deforestation. Take action for them and boycott palm oil!
Read moreForest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreBeautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
Critically endangered Phayre’s langurs and endangered capped langurs of Bangladesh, are interbreeding raising concerns about their survival, take action!
Read more Load more postsSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami #CO2 #corruption #deforestation #ewaste #GHG #gold #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation -
So-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ – a technology it claims will result in ‘Net Zero’ flights. However experts and researchers have lambasted this #aviation and #palmoil industry promotion as #greenwashing. They cite problematic evidence that using Sustainable Aviation Fuel or #SAF in #airlinefuel will undermine goals of keeping climate warming below 1.5°. In the meantime, despite the greenwash and industry spin, SAF is poised to flush gigatonnes of #rainforest #carbon into the sky exacerbating #climatechange. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Is #SAF or “Sustainable” Aviation Fuel really a #climate saviour? Or just a greedy #greenwashing lie about #palmoil #deforestation? 🤮🌴🔥 Cut through the BS with this article by Open Democracy #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9cg
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterDespite #aviation ✈️ and #palmoil industry #greenwashing, #climate experts predict “Sustainable” Aviation Fuel or #SAF will flush gigatonnes of rainforest #carbon into the sky. We demand better! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴 🔥🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9cg
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWritten by Ben Webster for Open Democracy, read original article. Republished under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence.
Virgin Atlantic and the UK government have been accused of misleading the public over what they claim will be “the world’s first net zero transatlantic flight” ahead of next week’s COP28 summit.
The Department for Transport said the flight, scheduled for Tuesday, was “ushering in a new era of guilt-free flying” because it will run entirely on so-called “sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF).
But openDemocracy revealed concerns earlier this year that SAF production in the UK may be linked to deforestation.
A stock image of a Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner, pictured on the approach to Heathrow Airport | Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images“There are some incredible double standards at play here,” said Matt Finch, UK policy manager of green campaign group Transport & Environment.
The SAF market in the UK is largely dependent on used cooking oil from Asia – where sellers are suspected of passing off unused palm oil as waste in order to attract lucrative credits. This is a particular problem for the environment, as producing palm oil drives deforestation.
Virgin last year bought more than 600,000 litres of “used” cooking oil from China and Indonesia to turn into SAF and mix with regular fuel for routine flights. Although it says the raw material for next week’s flight from London to New York will come purely from Europe and the US, the airline admitted it was still buying “feedstocks” from Asia for further SAF production this year.
“Some British airlines are – right now – greenwashing themselves by using used cooking oil made from Asian feedstocks,” said Finch.
“If airlines were genuinely trying to be sustainable, they would stop right now because of the huge risk of rogue palm oil getting into the SAF supply chain.”
https://youtu.be/1Ly5kJcsFhc?si=Q4ejK3-8KA0lwD8R
Green Lie of “Sustainable” Aviation Biofuel
“Sustainable” Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a biofuel alternative to using fossil fuels for powering planes and cars. SAF is being aggressively marketed by multiple industries as a greener alternative to burning fossil fuels in cars and airplanes.
However, SAF is produced from food crops such as rapeseed, palm oil, soy and sugar cane. This…
by Palm Oil DetectivesJanuary 7, 2024March 23, 2025Net zero target
The aviation industry claims that SAF – which is almost all made from either biofuel crops or waste – could deliver around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed for airlines to reach net zero in 2050.
Under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), the government allows used cooking oil to be used to make the fuel. It currently accounts for the vast majority of SAF declared in the UK, most of which comes from Asia.
In 2024 alone, British airlines have bought more than 26 million litres of used Asian cooking oil – including 18 million litres from Malaysia, five million from China and two million from Indonesia.
Only about 15% of the used cooking oil purchased by airlines in 2023 has come from European sources, mainly the UK and the Netherlands.
Investigations suggest there is a high risk of fraud in the supply of biofuel from Asia, with particular concern over virgin palm oil being passed off as used cooking oil.
Labelling virgin palm oil as used makes it more valuable, partly because waste products earn double credits under the UK government’s rules for sustainable fuels.
Even genuine used cooking oil can indirectly cause deforestation because countries export waste oil they would otherwise have used domestically, and instead use virgin palm oil to meet their own local demand, according to T&E.
The campaign group says used cooking oil from Asia would be more effective at cutting emissions if it were used to replace diesel in road vehicles in the countries where it was produced – rather than being shipped across the world to be refined, using additional energy, into jet fuel.
The Royal Society, which represents the UK’s leading scientists, has also warned that an area at least half the size of the UK would be needed to grow enough biofuel crops to meet existing aviation demand in the UK alone. Increased levels of recycling are also likely to mean less waste material is available for making the fuel.
Green fuel mandate
Commercial jet engines are currently allowed to burn a maximum of 50% SAF, which is blended with traditional kerosene jet fuel. But next week’s demonstration flight is expected to show that it is safe to use 100% SAF. It is being funded with a government grant of up to £1m.
It comes only weeks before the government is due to announce details about the so-called “SAF mandate”, which will require at least 10% of jet fuel in the UK to come from “sustainable sources” by 2030.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is planning to cap the amount of used cooking oil and animal fat that airlines can use to meet this obligation, because demand could divert the products away from efforts to decarbonise road transport.
The cap, though, could be as high as 250 million litres a year of waste fats and oils.
Finch of T&E said: “The SAF mandate will be the biggest environmental regulation applied to UK aviation ever, and the government has a choice to make: should it carry on allowing SAF to be made from feedstocks that have dubious environmental benefits, or should it ensure that the sustainability criteria it sets genuinely achieve carbon reductions? Used cooking oil should be banned from UK planes.”
‘Undermining’ climate goals
Virgin and other UK airlines say their SAF has been certified by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a scheme governed by a board that includes an executive from Air BP – one of Virgin’s SAF suppliers.
ISCC has nonetheless taken some action over SAF mis-selling. It launched an investigation this year into “potentially fraudulent behaviour” involving biodiesel that had been declared as waste from Indonesia or Malaysia and then exported from China to Europe.
It also suspended the sustainability certification of three Chinese biofuel exporters and last month pledged to clamp down on fraud by implementing “a traceability database by the end of the year”.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told openDemocracy: “With all SAF purchases, we require suppliers to comply with applicable sustainability standards. In respect of HEFA (Hydrogenated Esters and Fatty Acids) SAF, we ask suppliers to ensure that feedstocks do not contain palm oil or its derivatives.
“SAF is an emerging industry and we source feedstocks from regions around the world and ask that suppliers undertake robust due diligence to ensure there is no palm oil or derivatives.”
However, the Aviation Environment Federation says the aviation industry’s enthusiasm for SAF is obscuring the urgent need for genuinely sustainable solutions to aviation emissions, including development of zero emission aircraft and an overall reduction in flying.
Even if every drop of used cooking oil available globally were refined into jet fuel, there would only be enough to power about one in every 40 flights, according to estimates by sustainable fuel consultancy Cerulogy.
The aviation industry says it is developing alternative sources of sustainable aviation fuel, including “non-edible industrial corn”, “forestry residues” and household waste.
But a study in August by Manchester Metropolitan University challenged the industry’s claims that sustainable aviation fuel can drastically cut emissions.
It said: “The scaling up of SAF to not only maintain but grow global aviation is problematic as it competes for land needed for nature-based carbon removal, clean energy that could more effectively decarbonise other sectors, and captured CO2 to be stored permanently. As such, SAF production undermines global goals of limiting warming to 1.5°C.”
Cait Hewitt, policy director of the Aviation Environment Federation, said one flight using 100% SAF “will make no difference to the fact that only 2.6% of UK aviation fuel is anything other than kerosene. And globally, the figure is more like 0.1%.”
She said the industry and DfT were wrong to suggest that waste-based SAF could be scaled up sustainably.
“It’s a nice idea to make fuel out of rubbish, which is what the UK government and others are pushing for, but producing more rubbish to turn into plane fuel is pretty obviously not a sustainable long-term option.”
She also said it was misleading to claim, as the DfT has, that SAF cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 70%.
“Even using 100% SAF, as with the forthcoming Virgin Atlantic flight, reduces tailpipe emissions by 0% compared with using kerosene. Any CO2 savings will be net savings, just as with carbon offsets.”
She said the flight would not achieve any net CO2 savings unless Virgin and the DfT could demonstrate that more carbon had been captured than would have happened anyway.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Our sustainable aviation fuel programme is one of the most comprehensive in the world.
“We require that the fuel used [for the 100% SAF flight] must meet the specified sustainability criteria. However, it is for the operator and their fuel suppliers to determine the exact nature of the fuel within these parameters. Fuel suppliers are subject to independently verified checks to confirm the authenticity of their materials.”
Written by Ben Webster for Open Democracy, read original article. Republished under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and air pollution, climate change and palm oil deforestation
Forest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreWorld’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
Read moreMountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque
Mountain Tapirs are the most threatened large mammals of the northern Andes, hunting, climate change and mining are threats, take action and boycott gold!
Read moreSaolas are rare and considered Southeast Asia’s ‘unicorns’, this Critically Endangered antelope is facing imminent extinction due to hunting and deforestation
Read moreFrill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii
Frill-necked lizard AKA frilled dragons are endangered in southern Papua New Guinea and Indonesian-occupied West Papua due to palm oil ecocide, take action!
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,178 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #airPollution #airlinefuel #aviation #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #carbon #Climate #climateChange #climatechange #corruption #deforestation #greenwashing #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #rainforest #SAF -
Oreo Maker Linked to Ongoing Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses
Mondelēz International, the company behind Oreo biscuits, continues to source palm oil from suppliers linked to rainforest destruction, exploitation of workers, and #violence against #Indigenous land defenders. Despite marketing its palm oil as “sustainable” and RSPO-certified, investigations show that these claims amount to greenwashing, with human rights abuses and #deforestation ongoing in its supply chain. We demand urgent action to expose these deceptive practices and protect marginalised indigenous peoples, endangered animals and endangered plants. #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights
🍪🔥 #Mondelez maker of #Oreos is fuelling rainforest #ecocide and #humanrights abuses. They source #palmoil linked to #childlabour and exploitation 💀🌴 Use your wallet as a weapon to help animals and indigenous people! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterOreo’s “sustainable” #palmoil is a #greenwashing myth—deforestation and human rights abuses continue in #Mondelēz’s supply chain. Demand real change! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights @palmoildetect 🌴☠️🚫 https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitterhttps://youtu.be/eG8V-Cmj4Es?si=D3KyWvCa_A1ULdVQ
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
Mondelēz International, the global food giant responsible for Oreo biscuits, faces renewed scrutiny for its palm oil sourcing practices. Despite public claims of using “sustainable” RSPO-certified palm oil, evidence from multiple investigations shows that human rights abuses and deforestation remain widespread in the company’s supply chain.
Between 2015 and 2017, 22 of Mondelēz’s palm oil suppliers cleared over 70,000 hectares of rainforest, including 25,000 hectares of orangutan habitat in Indonesia. These suppliers have also been accused of child labour, worker exploitation, illegal deforestation, forest fires, and land grabbing. Much of this palm oil is sourced from Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, which has repeatedly failed to monitor or control its suppliers’ destructive practices.
Despite adopting a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” policy, Mondelēz’s reliance on RSPO certification has been widely criticised as ineffective and misleading. The RSPO standard has failed to prevent land grabs, forced labour, and environmental harm, while the company continues to market its products as ethical and sustainable.
Kiki Taufik, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Indonesia forests campaign, said: “It’s outrageous that despite promising to clean up its palm oil almost ten years ago, Mondelēz is still trading with forest destroyers. Palm oil can be made without destroying forests, yet our investigation discovered that Mondelēz suppliers are still trashing forests and wrecking orangutan habitat, pushing these beautiful and intelligent creatures to the brink of extinction. They’re literally dying for a cookie”.
The article highlights that these issues are not isolated incidents but reflect systemic failures in the palm oil sector’s self-regulation and corporate accountability. The continued use of “sustainable” palm oil claims is described as greenwashing, misleading consumers while abuses persist.
The article calls for urgent action from consumers, advocates, and policymakers to demand real accountability from companies like Mondelēz. Protecting Indigenous communities, upholding workers’ rights, and halting deforestation are identified as urgent priorities.
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Meat-Stinking Giant Flower Has A Delectable Aroma For Pollinators
Titan Arum AKA ‘Corpse Flowers’ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action!
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!
World’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
Jaguars and Pumas Eat More Monkeys in Damaged Forests
In fragmented forests of Mexico, big cats find it hard to locate prey ungulates instead seeking tree-dwelling #monkeys – that’s bad news for primates!
Load more posts
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,174 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #childlabour #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #GHG #greenwashing #HumanRights #indigenous #landgrabbing #Mondelez #News #Oreos #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #violence
-
Oreo Maker Linked to Ongoing Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses
Mondelēz International, the company behind Oreo biscuits, continues to source palm oil from suppliers linked to rainforest destruction, exploitation of workers, and #violence against #Indigenous land defenders. Despite marketing its palm oil as “sustainable” and RSPO-certified, investigations show that these claims amount to greenwashing, with human rights abuses and #deforestation ongoing in its supply chain. We demand urgent action to expose these deceptive practices and protect marginalised indigenous peoples, endangered animals and endangered plants. #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights
🍪🔥 #Mondelez maker of #Oreos is fuelling rainforest #ecocide and #humanrights abuses. They source #palmoil linked to #childlabour and exploitation 💀🌴 Use your wallet as a weapon to help animals and indigenous people! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterOreo’s “sustainable” #palmoil is a #greenwashing myth—deforestation and human rights abuses continue in #Mondelēz’s supply chain. Demand real change! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights @palmoildetect 🌴☠️🚫 https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitterhttps://youtu.be/eG8V-Cmj4Es?si=D3KyWvCa_A1ULdVQ
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
Mondelēz International, the global food giant responsible for Oreo biscuits, faces renewed scrutiny for its palm oil sourcing practices. Despite public claims of using “sustainable” RSPO-certified palm oil, evidence from multiple investigations shows that human rights abuses and deforestation remain widespread in the company’s supply chain.
Between 2015 and 2017, 22 of Mondelēz’s palm oil suppliers cleared over 70,000 hectares of rainforest, including 25,000 hectares of orangutan habitat in Indonesia. These suppliers have also been accused of child labour, worker exploitation, illegal deforestation, forest fires, and land grabbing. Much of this palm oil is sourced from Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, which has repeatedly failed to monitor or control its suppliers’ destructive practices.
Despite adopting a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” policy, Mondelēz’s reliance on RSPO certification has been widely criticised as ineffective and misleading. The RSPO standard has failed to prevent land grabs, forced labour, and environmental harm, while the company continues to market its products as ethical and sustainable.
Kiki Taufik, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Indonesia forests campaign, said: “It’s outrageous that despite promising to clean up its palm oil almost ten years ago, Mondelēz is still trading with forest destroyers. Palm oil can be made without destroying forests, yet our investigation discovered that Mondelēz suppliers are still trashing forests and wrecking orangutan habitat, pushing these beautiful and intelligent creatures to the brink of extinction. They’re literally dying for a cookie”.
The article highlights that these issues are not isolated incidents but reflect systemic failures in the palm oil sector’s self-regulation and corporate accountability. The continued use of “sustainable” palm oil claims is described as greenwashing, misleading consumers while abuses persist.
The article calls for urgent action from consumers, advocates, and policymakers to demand real accountability from companies like Mondelēz. Protecting Indigenous communities, upholding workers’ rights, and halting deforestation are identified as urgent priorities.
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Oreo Maker Linked to Ongoing Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses
Mondelēz International who make Oreos keep sourcing palm oil from suppliers linked to violence and deforestation. Their RSPO certification is pure greenwash!
Meat-Stinking Giant Flower Has A Delectable Aroma For Pollinators
Titan Arum AKA ‘Corpse Flowers’ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action!
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!
World’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 3,174 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #childlabour #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #GHG #greenwashing #HumanRights #indigenous #landgrabbing #Mondelez #News #Oreos #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #violence
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Oreo Maker Linked to Ongoing Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses
Mondelēz International, the company behind Oreo biscuits, continues to source palm oil from suppliers linked to rainforest destruction, exploitation of workers, and #violence against #Indigenous land defenders. Despite marketing its palm oil as “sustainable” and RSPO-certified, investigations show that these claims amount to greenwashing, with human rights abuses and #deforestation ongoing in its supply chain. We demand urgent action to expose these deceptive practices and protect marginalised indigenous peoples, endangered animals and endangered plants. #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights
🍪🔥 #Mondelez maker of #Oreos is fuelling rainforest #ecocide and #humanrights abuses. They source #palmoil linked to #childlabour and exploitation 💀🌴 Use your wallet as a weapon to help animals and indigenous people! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterOreo’s “sustainable” #palmoil is a #greenwashing myth—deforestation and human rights abuses continue in #Mondelēz’s supply chain. Demand real change! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights @palmoildetect 🌴☠️🚫 https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitterhttps://youtu.be/eG8V-Cmj4Es?si=D3KyWvCa_A1ULdVQ
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
Mondelēz International, the global food giant responsible for Oreo biscuits, faces renewed scrutiny for its palm oil sourcing practices. Despite public claims of using “sustainable” RSPO-certified palm oil, evidence from multiple investigations shows that human rights abuses and deforestation remain widespread in the company’s supply chain.
Between 2015 and 2017, 22 of Mondelēz’s palm oil suppliers cleared over 70,000 hectares of rainforest, including 25,000 hectares of orangutan habitat in Indonesia. These suppliers have also been accused of child labour, worker exploitation, illegal deforestation, forest fires, and land grabbing. Much of this palm oil is sourced from Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, which has repeatedly failed to monitor or control its suppliers’ destructive practices.
Despite adopting a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” policy, Mondelēz’s reliance on RSPO certification has been widely criticised as ineffective and misleading. The RSPO standard has failed to prevent land grabs, forced labour, and environmental harm, while the company continues to market its products as ethical and sustainable.
Kiki Taufik, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Indonesia forests campaign, said: “It’s outrageous that despite promising to clean up its palm oil almost ten years ago, Mondelēz is still trading with forest destroyers. Palm oil can be made without destroying forests, yet our investigation discovered that Mondelēz suppliers are still trashing forests and wrecking orangutan habitat, pushing these beautiful and intelligent creatures to the brink of extinction. They’re literally dying for a cookie”.
The article highlights that these issues are not isolated incidents but reflect systemic failures in the palm oil sector’s self-regulation and corporate accountability. The continued use of “sustainable” palm oil claims is described as greenwashing, misleading consumers while abuses persist.
The article calls for urgent action from consumers, advocates, and policymakers to demand real accountability from companies like Mondelēz. Protecting Indigenous communities, upholding workers’ rights, and halting deforestation are identified as urgent priorities.
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Meat-Stinking Giant Flower Has A Delectable Aroma For Pollinators
Titan Arum AKA ‘Corpse Flowers’ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action!
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!
World’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
Jaguars and Pumas Eat More Monkeys in Damaged Forests
In fragmented forests of Mexico, big cats find it hard to locate prey ungulates instead seeking tree-dwelling #monkeys – that’s bad news for primates!
Load more posts
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,174 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #childlabour #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #GHG #greenwashing #HumanRights #indigenous #landgrabbing #Mondelez #News #Oreos #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #violence
-
Oreo Maker Linked to Ongoing Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses
Mondelēz International, the company behind Oreo biscuits, continues to source palm oil from suppliers linked to rainforest destruction, exploitation of workers, and #violence against #Indigenous land defenders. Despite marketing its palm oil as “sustainable” and RSPO-certified, investigations show that these claims amount to greenwashing, with human rights abuses and #deforestation ongoing in its supply chain. We demand urgent action to expose these deceptive practices and protect marginalised indigenous peoples, endangered animals and endangered plants. #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights
🍪🔥 #Mondelez maker of #Oreos is fuelling rainforest #ecocide and #humanrights abuses. They source #palmoil linked to #childlabour and exploitation 💀🌴 Use your wallet as a weapon to help animals and indigenous people! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterOreo’s “sustainable” #palmoil is a #greenwashing myth—deforestation and human rights abuses continue in #Mondelēz’s supply chain. Demand real change! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights @palmoildetect 🌴☠️🚫 https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/04/oreo-maker-linked-to-ongoing-deforestation-and-human-rights-abuses/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitterhttps://youtu.be/eG8V-Cmj4Es?si=D3KyWvCa_A1ULdVQ
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
Mondelēz International, the global food giant responsible for Oreo biscuits, faces renewed scrutiny for its palm oil sourcing practices. Despite public claims of using “sustainable” RSPO-certified palm oil, evidence from multiple investigations shows that human rights abuses and deforestation remain widespread in the company’s supply chain.
Between 2015 and 2017, 22 of Mondelēz’s palm oil suppliers cleared over 70,000 hectares of rainforest, including 25,000 hectares of orangutan habitat in Indonesia. These suppliers have also been accused of child labour, worker exploitation, illegal deforestation, forest fires, and land grabbing. Much of this palm oil is sourced from Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, which has repeatedly failed to monitor or control its suppliers’ destructive practices.
Despite adopting a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” policy, Mondelēz’s reliance on RSPO certification has been widely criticised as ineffective and misleading. The RSPO standard has failed to prevent land grabs, forced labour, and environmental harm, while the company continues to market its products as ethical and sustainable.
Kiki Taufik, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Indonesia forests campaign, said: “It’s outrageous that despite promising to clean up its palm oil almost ten years ago, Mondelēz is still trading with forest destroyers. Palm oil can be made without destroying forests, yet our investigation discovered that Mondelēz suppliers are still trashing forests and wrecking orangutan habitat, pushing these beautiful and intelligent creatures to the brink of extinction. They’re literally dying for a cookie”.
The article highlights that these issues are not isolated incidents but reflect systemic failures in the palm oil sector’s self-regulation and corporate accountability. The continued use of “sustainable” palm oil claims is described as greenwashing, misleading consumers while abuses persist.
The article calls for urgent action from consumers, advocates, and policymakers to demand real accountability from companies like Mondelēz. Protecting Indigenous communities, upholding workers’ rights, and halting deforestation are identified as urgent priorities.
Rainforest Action Network. (2025, May 14). The maker of Oreos is not taking its human rights responsibilities seriously.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Meat-Stinking Giant Flower Has A Delectable Aroma For Pollinators
Titan Arum AKA ‘Corpse Flowers’ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action!
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus
Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!
World’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!
Jaguars and Pumas Eat More Monkeys in Damaged Forests
In fragmented forests of Mexico, big cats find it hard to locate prey ungulates instead seeking tree-dwelling #monkeys – that’s bad news for primates!
Load more posts
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,174 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #childlabour #corruption #deforestation #ecocide #GHG #greenwashing #HumanRights #indigenous #landgrabbing #Mondelez #News #Oreos #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #violence
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World’s Wealthiest Drive Two Thirds of Global Warming Since 1990
A study examining the wealthiest people in the USA and China reveals that the world’s richest 10% are responsible for two-thirds of global warming since 1990. Their consumption and investments disproportionately fuel climate extremes, especially in vulnerable regions like the Amazon and Southeast Asia. According to the lead author of the study: “If everyone had emitted like the bottom 50% of the global population, the world would have seen minimal additional warming since 1990”. This underscores the urgent need to examine the lifestyle choices and investments of the world’s richest people and for robust climate policies targeting the world’s most powerful in order to achieve true #ClimateJustice #ClimateActionNow
#Study finds top 10% of wealthiest people in #USA and #China cause two thirds of #GHG emissions. Robust #climate policies urgently and a #wealthtax needed to counteract pure #greed 💰🧐🤑 🤮#ClimateActionNow 🏭🛢️ #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/01/07/worlds-wealthiest-have-driven-two-thirds-of-global-warming-since-1990/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. (2025, May 7). The world’s wealthiest 10% caused two thirds of global warming since 1990. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130519.htm
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Climate Change has found that the world’s wealthiest 10% are responsible for two-thirds of global warming since 1990. The research, conducted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), highlights the disproportionate impact of affluent individuals’ consumption and investments on climate change.
The study reveals that the top 1% of earners globally have contributed 26 times more to increases in extreme heat events and 17 times more to Amazon droughts compared to the global average. These findings underscore the significant role that high-income individuals play in driving climate extremes, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and southern Africa.
Lead author Sarah Schöngart, associated with ETH Zurich, emphasizes that lifestyle and investment choices linked to wealth are major contributors to climate impacts. “Our study shows that extreme climate impacts are not just the result of abstract global emissions; instead, we can directly link them to our lifestyle and investment choices,” she stated.
The research utilised a novel modeling framework combining economic data and climate simulations to trace emissions from different global income groups. It found that emissions from the wealthiest 10% in countries like the United States and China led to a two- to threefold increase in heat extremes across vulnerable regions.
The researchers were able to trace emissions from different global income groups and assess their contributions to specific climate extremes.
They found that emissions from the wealthiest 10% of individuals in the United States and China alone, each led to a two-to threefold increase in heat extremes across vulnerable regions.
“If everyone had emitted like the bottom 50% of the global population, the world would have seen minimal additional warming since 1990,” says coauthor Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, who leads the Integrated Climate Impacts Research Group at IIASA. “Addressing this imbalance is crucial for fair and effective climate action.”
He advocates for climate policies that address the outsize responsibilities of the wealthiest members of society to effectively reduce future harm.
The study also highlights the importance of targeting emissions embedded in financial investments, not just personal consumption. By focusing on the financial flows and portfolios of high-income individuals, substantial climate benefits can be achieved.
This research provides compelling evidence for the need to implement progressive climate policies that hold the wealthiest accountable for their disproportionate contributions to global warming. Such measures are essential for achieving climate justice and mitigating the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable populations.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. (2025, May 7). The world’s wealthiest 10% caused two thirds of global warming since 1990. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130519.htm
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Do you love animals? Make every day #WorldWildlifeDay
This #WorldWildlifeDay take action for animals great and small! Reptiles insects, mammals and birds deserve better than palm oil ecocide and extinction. Make sure you Boycott palm oil
Read moreSo-called ‘Net Zero’ Flights Flush Rainforest Carbon Into the Sky
Virgin Atlantic airlines now uses ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ however experts call it greenwashing and industry spin causing climate change. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Gursky’s spectral tarsiers AKA Wusing of North Sulawesi are vulnerable due to palm oil and timber deforestation. Take action for them and boycott palm oil!
Read moreForest Protection Equals Climate Protection
Forests offer climate protection and safeguard indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. Deforestation is a major threat. Boycott palm oil!
Read moreBeautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladesh’s Langurs From Extinction
Critically endangered Phayre’s langurs and endangered capped langurs of Bangladesh, are interbreeding raising concerns about their survival, take action!
Read more Load more postsSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottGold4Yanomami #BoycottPalmOil #China #Climate #climateChange #ClimateActionNow #climatecrisis #ClimateEmergency #ClimateJustice #CO2 #consumerRights #corruption #deforestation #ewaste #GHG #gold #greed #investment #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #study #USA #wealth #wealthtax -
Seeing Forest As Merely A Carbon “Commodity”: Dangerous Greenwashing
The huge danger of commodifying forests and seeing them as merely an “investment” to be bought and sold as ‘carbon credits’ has many loopholes that deny indigenous sovereignty, social and economic outcomes of communities and pose grave extinction risks to wild animals and plants. Take action when you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
The huge danger of commodifying #forests 🌿 🔥 and seeing them as merely an “investment”, denies #indigenous sovereignty, social and economic outcomes of communities and #extinction risks. #humanrights 🌴⛔️ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-92u
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter‘Carbon credits’ turn #forest 🌳🔥 ecosystems into investments but deny #indigenous communities their rights and are often blatant #greenwashing. Use your wallet as a weapon and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife #landrights @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-92u
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWritten by Constance McDermott, Senior Fellow in Forest Governance and Leader of Ecosystems Governance Group, University of Oxford; Eric Kumeh Mensah, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Oxford, and Mark Hirons, Environmental Social Science Research Fellow, University of Oxford. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Forests are great carbon sinks – they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release. Globally, forests remove nearly all of the two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide that is currently being removed from the atmosphere every year.
These days, companies can buy “carbon credits” for the carbon that is stored in living forests and offset this against their own greenhouse gas emissions. International financiers estimate that by 2050, Africa could be selling US$1.5 trillion in carbon credits per year, mainly from its forests. Environmental social scientists Constance L. McDermott, Eric Mensah Kumeh and Mark Hirons are co-authors of a report on global forest governance for the International Union of Forest Research Organisations. They have found that buying and selling forest carbon as a commodity is dangerous if it is prioritised over the other environmental and social uses of forests. It could even result in environmental damage and the displacement of forest-dependent people.
What is a carbon sink?
All living things contain carbon, and are considered carbon sinks when they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release. Many ecosystems serve as carbon sinks, but forests have a large biomass (wood and twigs and leaves on the forest floor). This makes them a very important sink from a climate perspective.
The carbon that trees capture is sequestered (stored) in their wood, leaves or needles, and roots. When forests are cut down or burned, their stored carbon is released into the atmosphere and becomes a source of carbon emissions rather than a sink. Forest carbon sinks can be conserved by leaving live trees standing, or created and enhanced by planting or natural regeneration of trees.
Why is it a problem for a forest to be seen only as a carbon sink?
Forests support and regulate soil, water and nutrient flows, and provide habitat for the majority of the world’s species that live on land. They provide people with food, fuel, fibre, medicine and other products.
They are important to the cultural survival and well-being of many communities. In Africa alone, an estimated 245 million people live within five kilometres of a forest, and many of these people rely directly on forests for their livelihoods.
Our research found that forests are increasingly being managed as carbon sinks, and the carbon they store treated as a commodity that can be internationally traded. Carbon markets allow businesses and governments to earn credits by paying for forests that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is cheaper than reducing their own emissions. This is part of what we call the climatisation of forests.
Animal agriculture and meat, The contents of your fridge and dining table directly impacts the future of rare rainforest and ocean animals. That’s because industrial agriculture and aquaculture for commodities like meat, dairy, fish and palm oil is driving animals in the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet closer towards extinction.Governing forests only as carbon sinks can promote “green grabs” where non-forested land, such as grasslands, used by communities for farming and other activities, is taken from the community and used by wealthy companies or governments to plant large tracts of trees to store carbon. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, is being targeted as a readily available and inexpensive location for one million hectares of forest restoration and tree plantations.
This is especially threatening for people who do not have secure rights to the forests and land they depend on. These communities can even be restricted or banned from entering the forest. Research has found that forest-dependent communities are rarely given power to address their own priorities in forest carbon sink schemes. This can cause conflict locally and weaken local democracy.
Let’s take the example of the Mai-Ndombe forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which supports about 100,000 people in 23 villages. Activities in the Mai-Ndombe under the global Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) climate change mechanism have focused on changing the practices of local forest-dependent communities away from cutting trees for artisanal logging or firewood collection. These communities have also been told not to continue with traditional methods of shifting cultivation (where parts of a forest are temporarily cleared to grow food crops without deforesting the area permanently).
Yet in Mai-Ndombe and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s other forests, land is already allocated to companies for timber (mainly for the export market), for mining, and increasingly for forest carbon sequestration. The result is that large companies continue to extract major economic benefits from forests in ways that exclude local communities.
Ghana’s Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme is another example. In a bid to reduce deforestation and increase forest carbon stocks, the government of Ghana pays farmers and local communities to not plant cocoa crops in forested areas and to grow shade trees on their cocoa farms.
These efforts to share benefits locally are very important. However, asking farmers to plant or conserve trees does not address the fact that farmers are not earning a living income from selling cocoa.
Ghana’s cocoa farmers receive less than 7.5% of the value of a chocolate bar sold in international markets, and they suffer from food insecurity and increasing crop failures due to climate change. They do not have legal rights to the native trees that regenerate naturally on their cocoa farms.
The focus of REDD+ on channelling large amounts of money into forests as carbon could mean that many farmers lose access to land for growing food and meeting other livelihood needs – unless this is balanced by major investments to address the core challenges the farmers are facing.
What are some solutions?
Forests can absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and still support communities. A people-centred approach to forests is needed. This means giving local communities secure rights to their land and forest resources, and governing forests according to what best suits the local context, rather than making forest use fit the international market.
The important role of traditional authorities and local customs in managing land and resolving conflicts must be recognised. Many traditional practices have managed forests sustainably for thousands of years. The challenge is to value and support these alternative approaches.
Written by Constance McDermott, Senior Fellow in Forest Governance and Leader of Ecosystems Governance Group, University of Oxford; Eric Kumeh Mensah, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Oxford, and Mark Hirons, Environmental Social Science Research Fellow, University of Oxford. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Finance giants fuel $8.9 trillion deforestation economy
Forest 500 report shows 150 of the world’s largest financial institutions invested nearly $9 trillion in deforestation-linked industries. Support EUDR!
Saolas are rare and considered Southeast Asia’s ‘unicorns’, this Critically Endangered antelope is facing imminent extinction due to hunting and deforestation
Songbirds Socialise Mid-Flight During Migration
Songbirds communicate with different species during nocturnal flights sharing vital info about navigation and stopover habitats. Save their fascinating world!
Pangolins get their name from the Malay ‘pengguling’ meaning rolling up. These special critically endangered animals deserve a break from savage poaching
Tucuxi, small freshwater dolphins of Peru Ecuador Colombia and Brazil are Endangered due to fishing nets, deforestation, mercury poisoning from gold mining.
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Join 3,173 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #carbonCredits #corruption #deforestation #extinction #Forest #forests #greenwash #greenwashing #HumanRights #indigenous #landrights #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #plywood #supplyChain #supplychain #wood
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Deforestation Devastates Tesso Nilo National Park’s Endangered Creatures
Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra, #Indonesia, has lost 78% of its primary forest between 2009 and 2023, primarily due to #palmoil plantations. This #deforestation threatens the habitat of critically endangered species like the Sumatran #tiger and #elephant. Advocating for indigenous-led conservation efforts and adopting a vegan lifestyle can help protect these vital ecosystems. #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterTesso Nilo National Park, established two decades ago to safeguard one of Sumatra’s largest remaining lowland forests, is facing severe deforestation. Recent satellite imagery from Global Forest Watch indicates that the park has lost 78% of its primary forest cover between 2009 and 2023.
The primary driver of this deforestation is the expansion of illegal oil palm plantations. A 2018 investigation by the World Wildlife Fund revealed that nearly 75% of the park had been converted into such plantations. The development of these plantations introduces roads, increasing accessibility for poachers and further endangering wildlife.
Tesso Nilo is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 4,000 plant species and nearly 3% of the world’s mammal species, including critically endangered Sumatran tigers and Sumatran elephants. The ongoing deforestation poses a significant threat to these species, leading to palm oil habitat loss and ecosystem disruption.
In addition to biodiversity loss, deforestation contributes to climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.
Efforts to combat deforestation in Tesso Nilo include raising awareness about the consequences of palm oil deforestation and promoting indigenous-led conservation initiatives. Make sure you resist against animal and plant extinction when you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife!
For a detailed analysis, read the full article on The Cool Down.
Marino, J. (2024, December 15). Satellite imagery identifies disturbing problem in national park — here’s why experts are concerned. The Cool Down. Retrieved from https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/tesso-nilo-national-park-deforestation-satellite-images/
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Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Protecting India’s Tigers Saves One Million Tonnes of CO2
#India’s fifty year long Project #Tiger has been a successful conservation project. A new research study finds that protecting tigers and their rainforest home has additional benefits to #carbonemissions, saving 1 million tonnes…
Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei
Perched on delicate leaves above rushing mountain streams, Centrolene savagei is a rare frog of wonder. The Savage’s Glass Frog, also known as the Savage’s Cochran Frog has translucent emerald skin that shimmers…
Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests
Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests | Research by Lancaster University reveals that human-induced deforestation and degradation in Brazilian forests are causing a shift towards fast-growing, small-seeded tree species. These changes…
Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus
The beguiling Pesquet’s #parrots are sometimes known as ‘Dracula parrots’ due to their unique appearance. This includes black facial features, black feathers and bright red patches that reminiscent of a Dracula-like cloak. This…
How We Save Sumatra’s Last Living Tigers
Strict global rainforest laws like #EUDR, enforcement of anti #poaching units, and a consumer boycott of #palmoil, hold the key to protecting #Sumatra’s last living #tigers.
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1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 1,396 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #corruption #deforestation #elephant #elephants #Indonesia #News #orangutans #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Sumatra #SumatranCochoaCochoaBeccarii #SumatranElephantElephasMaximusSumatranus #SumatranGroundCuckooCarpococcyxViridis #SumatranLaughingthrushGarrulaxBicolor #SumatranLeafbirdChloropsisMedia #SumatranMesiaLeiothrixLaurinae #SumatranOrangutanPongoAbelii #SumatranTigerPantheraTigrisSondaica #TessoNiloNationalPark #tiger #tigers #vegan
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Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests
Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian #Forests | Research by Lancaster University reveals that human-induced deforestation and degradation in Brazilian forests are causing a shift towards fast-growing, small-seeded tree species. These changes threaten biodiversity and reduce carbon storage capacity. Supporting indigenous-led conservation efforts is crucial to protect these ecosystems. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
#News: Human-driven #deforestation 🌳🔥😿 in #Brazil 🇧🇷is shifting #forests towards fast-growing trees, reducing #biodiversity and #carbon storage. Boycott brands destroying the world! #BoycottPalmOil be #vegan 🌴🥩🤮⛔️ @palmoildetect #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9P8
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterLancaster University. (2024, December 10). Human disruption is driving ‘winner’ and ‘loser’ tree species shifts across Brazilian forests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115438.htm
Recent research out of Lancaster University reveals that human activities, including deforestation and forest degradation, are altering the composition of tree species in Brazilian forests. The study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, indicates a dominance of fast-growing, small-seeded tree species in areas with significant human disturbance.
These “winning” species, characterised by rapid growth and shorter lifespans, are replacing slow-growing, large-seeded trees with denser wood. This shift has serious implications for ecosystem services, notably reducing the forests’ ability to absorb and store carbon. Additionally, wildlife species that rely on large seeds for food and dispersal are adversely affected.
The international research team analyzed data from over 1,200 tropical tree species across more than 270 forest plots in the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic forests. They identified that landscapes with high forest cover are dominated by dense-wooded, large-seeded trees, primarily dispersed by medium to large-bodied animals. In contrast, heavily deforested areas are increasingly populated by opportunistic species with softer wood and smaller seeds, dispersed by small, mobile birds and bats adapted to disturbed environments.
Lead author Bruno X. Pinho emphasizes the need for conservation and restoration efforts to preserve these vital ecosystems. Senior Investigator Professor Jos Barlow highlights the importance of addressing not only deforestation but also forest disturbances such as selective logging and fires.
Tropical forests are crucial reservoirs of biodiversity and play a significant role in mitigating climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases. The ongoing shifts in tree species composition due to human disruption underscore the urgent need for indigenous-led conservation initiatives to protect and restore these ecosystems.
For more detailed information, read more.
Lancaster University. (2024, December 10). Human disruption is driving ‘winner’ and ‘loser’ tree species shifts across Brazilian forests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115438.htm
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Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus
The beguiling Pesquet’s #parrots are sometimes known as ‘Dracula parrots’ due to their unique appearance. This includes black facial features, black feathers and bright red patches that reminiscent of a Dracula-like cloak. This…
How We Save Sumatra’s Last Living Tigers
Strict global rainforest laws like #EUDR, enforcement of anti #poaching units, and a consumer boycott of #palmoil, hold the key to protecting #Sumatra’s last living #tigers.
Protecting The Rare, Precious Red Colobus Will Safeguard Africa’s Forests
Very few people have heard of the rarest primate in #Africa – The Red Colobus. Featuring funky hairstyles and expressive faces they daringly leap between trees to search for food. Every species of…
Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli
The Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli also known as the Eclectus Parrot or Tanimbar Eclectus is a rare and striking #parrot found only on the #Tanimbar Islands of Indonesian occupied #WestPapua. Males display…
Leopards’ Roars Are Actually Hidden Big Cat Fingerprints
Leopards’ Roars Are Actually Hidden Big Cat Fingerprints | Researchers from the University of Exeter have discovered that each #leopard possesses a distinctive roar, allowing for individual identification with 93% accuracy. This finding…
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 1,396 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#biodiversity #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brazil #carbon #corruption #deforestation #forests #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #vegan
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An Action Plan for Amazon Droughts: The Time is Now!
The fertile lungs of our planet, the Amazon jungle faces severe drought due to El Niño, climate change, and deforestation for agriculture like palm oil, soy and meat. This along with gold mining, affects biodiversity and local indigenous communities. To combat this crisis, stronger measures against deforestation and illegal mining are essential. Global and local leaders must act now to protect the Amazon. #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottGold4Yanomami #Boycott4Wildlife.
Don’t let the verdant lungs of the 🇧🇷🌳 #Amazon 🫁 turn black 🖤 Global leaders must take action NOW against #deforestation for #agriculture and #goldmining 🥇👃 Learn more #BoycottGold4Yanomami #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect @BarbaraNavarro https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8Uj
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWritten by Lucas Ferrante, Pesquisador Vinculado ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM) This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The drought plaguing the Amazon is a worrying portrait of the climate challenges facing the world. The combination of the El Niño phenomenon and anthropogenic climate change has played a significant role in accentuating this extreme weather event. The Amazon region, known for its lush rainforest and flowing rivers, is facing a critical situation due to a lack of rainfall and rising temperatures.
This phenomenon, never recorded at this intensity, has affected biodiversity and human life in eight Amazonian states. The drought has already killed more than 140 dolphins, including pink dolphins and tucuxis, also known as grey dolphins. The mortality of fish and other aquatic animals is also high. The low volume of the rivers affects the human supply, causing a lack of drinking water and food in all the small villages, even those located on the banks of the big rivers. Of the 62 municipalities in the state of Amazonas, 42 are in a state of emergency, 18 are in a state of alert and only two are in a normal situation.
The El Niño phenomenon has a direct influence on the Amazon drought. It manifests itself in the abnormal warming of the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, affecting the rainfall regime in various parts of the world. In the case of the Amazon region, the drought is exacerbated by a decrease in humidity and a lack of rainfall, damaging the vegetation, fauna and local communities that depend on natural resources.
However, anthropogenic climate change is making the situation even worse. Rampant deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion and logging activity, reduces the Amazon rainforest’s ability to regulate the climate and retain moisture. In addition, the destruction of vast areas of vegetation contributes to rising temperatures, creating a cycle of even more accentuated droughts.
Deforestation and gold mining, major factors
Deforestation has been particularly devastating in the region of Highway BR-319, in the south of Amazonas state, driven by land grabbing which has provided cheap land to cattle ranchers from other states. In turn, this deforestation has increased the number of fires that feed back into the climate crisis. When they occur near riverbanks, deforestation also intensifies the phenomenon known as fallen land, which has drastically affected the draught of rivers and is already significantly jeopardising navigation and logistics, mainly affecting villages in the interior of the Amazon, which are already suffering from shortages.
Another factor that has played a significant role in affecting navigation is gold mining activity. Disorganised mineral extraction has created banks of land that are harmful to navigation and which, in the critical scenario of drought, have caused many vessels to run aground.
https://youtu.be/RLsqyADpgn0?si=as-KiYmvLJoEc71r
The impact of hydroelectric dams
Hydroelectric dams also play a role in contributing to the drought scenario, especially on the Madeira River. This is mainly due to the decomposition of organic matter in reservoirs created by dams, which releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. In addition, deforestation associated with the construction of dams, as well as soil degradation and erosion resulting from the alteration of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, can increase emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants, contributing to the impact of hydroelectric dams on climate change.
The Madeira River, now at its lowest level in almost 60 years, has been drastically affected and transformed by the Jirau and Santo Antônio hydroelectric dams. This was due to the drastic alteration of the river’s natural flow caused by the damming of water for power generation. When water is dammed, a reservoir is formed that retains part of the water that would normally flow along the river. This diversion of the flow directly affects the region’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, since the basin’s hydrological cycle is interrupted. The reduction in the volume of water in the Madeira River, for example, can lead to prolonged periods of drought, affecting not only aquatic fauna and riparian habitats, but also local communities that depend on the river for their livelihoods.
In addition, the construction and operation of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon often involves the clearing of significant areas of forest for the construction of dams and associated infrastructure. Deforestation contributes to a reduction in evapotranspiration, which is a crucial process for water balance in the region. With fewer trees to release water into the atmosphere, the Amazon becomes more susceptible to drought. The combination of these factors results in a significant impact on the region, making hydroelectric dams one of the causes of drought in the Amazon, particularly on the Madeira River, with worrying environmental and social consequences.
Species under threat by hydroelectric dams
Amazon River Dolphin Inia geoffrensis
The Amazon River dolphins, also known as the Boto Dolphins or Amazon Pink River Dolphins are playful, curious and intelligent mammals, the largest river dolphin species in the world.…
Read moreBaird’s tapirs may look like they are relatives of elephants, but they’re actually closer kin to horses, donkeys, zebras, and rhinoceroses. Also known as the Central American tapir, they…
Read moreGiant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis
The agile and graceful tumbling Olympians of the Amazonian rivers, Giant #Otters are able to swim 100 metres in less than 30 seconds. They are also known as the…
Read moreHarlequin Poison Frog Oophaga histrionica
Chocó rainforests, the harlequin poison frog is as deadly as it is beautiful. Cloaked in hypnotic shades of orange, yellow, green and black, this tiny amphibian is a master…
Read moreOrinoco Crocodile Crocodylus intermedius
Endemic to the Orinoco River Basin in #Colombia and #Venezuela, the majestic Orinoco Crocodile is one of the rarest and most threatened reptiles on Earth. These intelligent, powerful apex…
Read moreHoge’s Side-necked Turtle Mesoclemmys hogei
The Hoge’s Side-necked Turtle Ranacephala hogei—also known as Hoge’s Toadhead Turtle—is one of #Brazil’s rarest and most endangered reptiles. Having diverged from other turtles some 80 million years ago,…
Read moreWhat can still be done
In order to combat the extreme drought in the Amazon and its devastating effects, it is essential to adopt strict measures to curb deforestation and illegal mining in the region, and for the federal government to review major undertakings such as hydroelectric dams and roads, such as the BR-319 motorway.
Many politicians have argued that the road, if paved, could reduce the state’s isolation, especially during droughts. However, this is a fallacious argument, because connecting the most isolated municipalities would require hundreds of kilometres of side roads, which would further increase deforestation and aggravate the climate crisis.
In addition, the BR-319 motorway has become a spearhead that cuts through one of the most conserved blocks of forest, linking the central Amazon, which is still preserved, to the “arc of Amazonian deforestation”, a region that concentrates most of the climate anomalies in the entire biome.
Ecosystem on the edge
In a recent study published in the renowned journal Conservation Biology, it was shown that deforestation in the Amazon is already impacting ecosystem services that are essential for Brazil, such as the Amazon’s flying rivers. This scientific data shows that we are already at the threshold of deforestation and environmental degradation tolerated by the Amazon, and more forceful action needs to be taken now.
Part of this responsibility lies now in the hands of President Lula, in reviewing major developments in the Amazon, such as hydroelectric dams and highways like the BR-319. In addition, it is essential to institute a zero deforestation policy that should begin this year, and not in 2030, when it will be too late. Furthermore, it is crucial that the international community and local governments work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change effectively. Only with coordinated and decisive action will we be able to mitigate the impacts of drought in the Amazon and protect this unique ecosystem that plays a vital role in regulating the global climate.
Written by Lucas Ferrante, Pesquisador Vinculado ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM) This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Read more about deforestation and ecocide for gold mining
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats
Read moreIndigenous Peoples Fight Climate Change
After wildfires, Belize’s indigenous people rebuild stronger based on “se’ komonil”: reciprocity, solidarity, gender equity, togetherness and community.
Read moreTucuxi, small freshwater dolphins of Peru Ecuador Colombia and Brazil are Endangered due to fishing nets, deforestation, mercury poisoning from gold mining.
Read moreBrazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus
The Brazilian three-banded #armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus, known as “tatu-bola” in Portuguese, is a rare and unique species native to #Brazil. With the ability to roll into a near-impenetrable ball, this endearing behaviour has…
Read moreIndigenous Empowerment to Reverse Amazonia’s Mineral Demand
Illegal mining for minerals like gold is driving Amazonia deforestation. Empowering Indigenous peoples to care for biodiversity-rich areas is the key!
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Agriculture #Amazon #AmazonRainforest #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold4Yanomami #BoycottPalmOil #Climate #climateChange #corruption #dams #deforestation #goldMining #goldmining #hydroelectric #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #waterPollution -
How banks and investors are bankrolling extinction and ecocide
This article highlights the significant role that banks and investors play in fuelling a global biodiversity crisis – particularly in relation to palm oil, meat, soy and timber deforestation.
By financially supporting corporations that exploit natural resources, banks and investment firms are bankrolling palm oil and meat production ecocide. These activities contribute to the destruction of rainforests, leading to massive losses in biodiversity and impacting wildlife habitats. Key commodities like palm oil and beef are primary drivers of deforestation and environmental degradation.
As consumers we can take action and use our wallets as weapons when we boycott meat and palm oil in the supermarket, help animals and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycottmeat #Boycott4Wildlife
DYK #banks fund industries harming animal beings? Protecting #animals in #rainforests and on farms starts with our #supermarket choices. Embrace kindness for animals and forests — be #vegan 🌱❤️🐾 #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect Learn more: https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7N6
Share to Twitter#Banks and #investment funds are bankrolling the #ecocide and #extinction of #agribusiness giants: JBS, Sinar Mas and Cargill. They destroy rainforests for #palmoil & #meat, killing all in their path 🌍✊ #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7N6
Share to TwitterThis article was produced by Earth • Food • Life for Wiki Observatory. How Banks and Investors Are Fueling a Global Biodiversity Crisis” by Laurel Sutherlin is licensed by the Observatory under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
2023 Analysis has revealed banks have poor safeguards against funding deforestation
In a global context where tropical rainforests play a critical role in biodiversity conservation and climate regulation, these ecosystems are severely threatened by expanding agribusiness and logging activities. This poses significant risks to the environment, wildlife, and communities dependent on rainforests.
Against the backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of these vital ecosystems and address the injustices faced by Indigenous and local communities and workers within the agricultural sector.
The ratification of the UN Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022 marked a pivotal moment, signaling a collective commitment by 196 countries to reverse the decline in global biodiversity. However, financial institutions have historically failed to address their role in exacerbating the biodiversity crisis.
A 2023 report by Forests and Finance—a coalition of campaign, grassroots and research organizations that includes TuK Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Repórter Brasil, BankTrack, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Friends of the Earth U.S., and my organization, Rainforest Action Network—sheds light on the extensive financial support provided to sectors responsible for tropical deforestation, including beef, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber, soy, and timber. “From January 2016 to September 2023, banks provided at least $307 billion in credit to these operations,” states the report, while institutional investors held approximately $38 billion in related shares and bonds.
Forests and Finance tracks six forest-risk commodity sectors that are responsible for driving tropical deforestation. These sector summaries show the credits (loans, revolving credit facilities, bond issuances, and share issuances) provided to these sectors from January 2016 to September 2023 and the investments (bond holdings and shareholdings) outstanding as of September 2023. (Image: Forests and Finance, Rainforest Action Network)
Despite fluctuations in financial flows, there has been no discernible downward trend in financing forest-risk commodity production. Alarmingly, the analysis of more than 100 financial institutionsʼ policies in 2023 revealed grossly inadequate safeguards against deforestation and its associated social and environmental impacts. The average policy score was just 17 percent, according to the report.
Banks fund serial bad actors: JBS, Cargill, Sinar Mas Group and Royal Golden Eagle
Entities like JBS, Cargill, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Group exemplify the egregious behaviours tolerated and enabled by banks and investors.
Demands to Correct a Systemic Issue
The report by Forests and Finance urged governments and financial institutions to adopt and enact five principles:
Halt and reverse biodiversity loss
Uphold and prioritise the rights of Indigenous peoples, women, and local communities
Facilitate a just transition
Safeguard ecosystem integrity
Harmonise institutional objectives across sectors, issues, and instruments
Immediate action is crucial to combat the climate and biodiversity crises. The report urges financial institutions to align their activities with sustainability goals, enact robust environmental and social policies, and ensure transparency and accountability. By holding the financial sector accountable for its role in enabling social and environmental harm, we can work toward preserving biodiversity and mitigating the impacts of climate change for current and future generations.Forest-Risk Credit Trends
The report revealed that at least $307 billion in credit had been directed to forest-risk sectors from 2016 to September 2023. The beef sector dominated South America, while palm oil led in Southeast Asia and rubber in Central and West Africa. Primary beneficiaries included agro-commodity traders and companies with significant environmental and social violations.
While progress has been made, heightened attention and enhanced due diligence procedures are needed to address associated ESG risks and promote sustainable financial practices to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.
Big corporations launched the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) in June 2021 to guide businesses in reporting nature-related dependencies. However, civil society organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the task force’s development, composition, approach, and potential for greenwashing.
Credit Flows Where Ecocide Goes
The analysis of regional credit flow and investment trends in forest-risk commodity sectors across South America, Southeast Asia, and Central and West Africa revealed significant financial flows and investments contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.
In South America, the beef sector dominated forest-risk credit flows, followed by soy, and pulp and paper, with Banco do Brasil emerging as a significant creditor. Infamous beneficiaries included companies like Suzano and Marfrig.
In Southeast Asia, palm oil was the dominant recipient of forest-risk credit, followed by pulp, paper, and rubber. Indonesian banks played a significant role as financiers, with recipients including tycoon-owned conglomerates Sinar Mas Group (SME) and Royal Golden Eagle (RGE). Concerns over governance risks and greenwashing practices persisted despite reductions in primary forest loss.
Central and West Africa saw the rubber sector attracting the majority of forest-risk credit, with Chinese companies emerging as primary financiers. The Chinese Sinochem Group was the largest recipient of the credit, followed by China Forestry Group and Wilmar.
Despite fluctuations in credit flows, challenges remain in corporate structures and accountability. For instance, companies like “SMG [and] RGE… have established complex corporate structures that mask ownership relations. This poses serious governance risks and facilitates leakage and greenwashing. They have all been linked to egregious social and environmental harms for decades,” states the report.
Forest-Risk Investments
Investments in activities likely to damage forests globally amounted to more than $38 billion, with palm oil receiving the most significant share, followed by pulp and paper. Major institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard increased their stakes in forest-risk commodity companies, while others maintained or reduced their investments.
In South America, investments were predominantly allocated to the pulp and paper sector, with Suzano being the highest recipient. Southeast Asia saw the most investment in palm oil companies, with Sime Darby Plantations and IOI Group among the leading recipients.
In Central and West Africa, palm oil companies also received the majority of investments, with Sumitomo Forestry and Itochu being prominent recipients.
Policies by Sector
Regarding sectoral policies, financial institutions exhibit the most robust policies for palm oil, followed closely by timber, and pulp and paper. However, the average scores for these sectors remain relatively low, indicating room for improvement despite sustained civil society campaigns and certification schemesʼ existence.
The assessment of forest-risk bank policies reveals that, on average, the largest 30 forest-risk banks have higher overall policy scores than the largest forest-risk investors. However, the scores across the board are still low, reflecting minimal policy coverage across ESG criteria.
While some banks like CIMB and BNP Paribas scored relatively higher, others like Banco do Brasil and ICBC had notably low scores, indicating inadequate policies to address harmful activities.
Four Corporations Are Leading The Destruction
The report highlights four corporations—Cargill, JBS, Royal Golden Eagle, and Sinar Mas Group—that continue to receive significant credit and investment from financial institutions despite having egregious environmental and social track records. Cargill, in particular, has received substantial credit for its soy operations in tropical forest regions despite having a legacy of human rights abuses and environmental degradation.
Cargill
Cargillʼs expansion into the Brazilian Amazon and the Cerrado savanna has raised concerns due to decades of deforestation, violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights, and failures to meet deforestation commitments. Civil society campaigns, such as Burning Legacy, have aimed to hold Cargill accountable for its practices, documenting evidence of human rights abuses and deforestation in its supply chain.
Despite making commitments to ensure zero deforestation by 2020, Cargill has failed to meet its goals and has faced allegations of land grabbing and violations of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights.
The report also discusses the implications of the financialization of land and the role of the financial sector in exacerbating soy-driven deforestation through land speculation. It evaluates the policies of banks financing Cargill, revealing low scores and loopholes that weaken their effectiveness in preventing harm in forest-risk sectors.
Protest by Rainforest Action Network against Cargill’s palm oil ecocide despite them using so-called “sustainable” palm oilJBS
The report delves into the multifaceted issues surrounding JBS, the Brazilian meat giant, and its impact on the Amazon rainforest, climate change, and local communities. Financed by major banks from Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Japan, JBS has received substantial credit and investment despite its documented history of harmful business practices. Since 2019, banks have provided more than $718 million in forest-risk beef credit to JBS, while investors held $667 million in bonds and shares as of September 2023.
JBSʼs operations in the Brazilian Amazon have devastating consequences for forests, biodiversity, and Indigenous and traditional communities. The company’s practices include bribery, corruption, price fixing, forced labor and labor abuses, forest destruction, land grabbing, and contribution to climate change. Despite JBS’s high-profile pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, independent research suggests that the company lacks a credible decarbonization plan, leading to allegations of greenwashing.
The exploitation of people and forests in the Amazon is a systemic issue linked to JBS. Between 2008 and 2020, the company’s involvement in deforestation extended to approximately 200,000 hectares in its direct supply chain and 1.5 million hectares indirectly. Despite agreements to clean up its supply chain, JBS has failed to ensure its products are free from deforestation and forced labor, as evidenced by ongoing violations.
The assessment of JBS policies reveals concerning scores, indicating inadequate measures to prevent environmental harm and protect human rights. While some banks like Barclays scored relatively higher, others like Bradesco and BTG Pactual had alarmingly low scores, raising questions about their commitment to addressing crucial issues like deforestation and climate change.
The communities affected by these actions are now holding financial institutions supporting companies like JBS responsible for the environmental damage. In April 2024, the Parakanã people met with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) to ask for reparation for the devastation of their territory, including by JBS suppliers. The Brazilian bank holds 20 percent of the shares of JBS and is therefore considered co-responsible for the impacts.
Royal Golden Eagle Group
The report also reveals mounting evidence that the multibillion-dollar Royal Golden Eagle Group (RGE), which says on its website “manages a group of world-class companies specializing in resource-based manufacturing,” operates numerous “shadow companies” and complex offshore ownership schemes to hide their destruction of forests across Indonesia. Banks have poured more than $4.5 billion into forest-risk pulp and paper-attributable loans and underwriting services for RGEʼs operations between 2019 and 2023.
However, none of the financial institutions assessed have adequate policies to mitigate the negative impacts. Scores for RGEʼs top creditors range from 1 percent to 24 percent, indicating a lack of comprehensive policy coverage regarding forest-risk commodity sectors.
Sign and share petition Indigenous Batak communities in North Sumatra hold a giant banner in protest of unresolved land conflicts and deforestation on Indigenous lands by PT. Toba Pulp Lestari. Photo by KSPPM, October 2022.Sinar Mas Group
Sinar Mas Group (SMG), Indonesiaʼs largest conglomerate, has attracted substantial financing, receiving more than $20.3 billion in credit since 2019. Its palm oil division alone obtained $3.7 billion, primarily from Indonesian and Malaysian banks, between 2019 and September 2023. Despite this financial backing, SMG faces accusations of human rights abuses, massive greenhouse gas emissions, and large-scale deforestation, mainly through its pulp and paper division, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).
The destruction of the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve by illegal palm oil plantations linked to SMGʼs operations poses a significant concern, threatening biodiversity and local communitiesʼ well-being within the Leuser Ecosystem. Despite documented evidence, SMG and its subsidiaries have failed to address these issues adequately, raising questions about their commitment to sustainability.
The report evaluates the policies of banks and investors financing SMG, revealing a spectrum of approaches. Malaysian banks CIMB and Maybank and Dutch bank Rabobank exhibit more robust policies, scoring highest for the palm oil sector. However, Indonesian banks such as Bank Panin, BRI, and Japanese bank MUFG have notably weaker policies, indicating insufficient measures to address environmental and social risks.
What Governments and Financial Institutions Can Do
The report underscores the urgent need for financial institutions to adopt robust policies and due diligence measures to address environmental and social risks associated with companies like JBS and RGE. Failure to do so perpetuates ecological destruction and human rights abuses and exposes banks and investors to significant financial and reputational risks.
Critically, the report also advocates for governments to step in and mandate financial sector regulation necessary to safeguard society and the ecosystems we depend on, consistent with international public policy goals. This is a problem that ultimately demands stronger, more systemic interventions. These could include, for example, prohibiting the allocation of capital to certain sectors or corporations driving ecosystem destruction and legislating for meaningful sanctions against financial institutions that fail to align their lending and investment accordingly.
This article was produced by Earth • Food • Life for Wiki Observatory. How Banks and Investors Are Fueling a Global Biodiversity Crisis” by Laurel Sutherlin is licensed by the Observatory under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
ENDS
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