Letter-from-Business-on-Amazon_2021.pdf (retailsoygroup.org)
5 May 2021
An open letter on the protection of the Amazon
To the Deputies and Senators of the National Congress of Brazil, A year ago, we wrote to you about our concern about Provisional Measure 910, then reshaped to PL 2633/2020. We were heartened by your previous decision to withdraw the proposal before it was brought to the floor. Over the past year, we have seen a series of circumstances result in extremely high levels of forest fires and deforestation in Brazil.
At the same time, we have noted that the targets to reduce these levels, as well as the enforcement budgets available to deliver them, are increasingly inadequate. It is therefore extremely concerning to see that the same measure we responded to last year is being put forward again as the legislative proposal PL 510/21 with potentially even greater threats to the Amazon than before.
These measures are counter to the narrative and rhetoric we have seen internationally from Brazil as recently as 22 April 2021 at the summit with US President Joe Biden. We would like to reiterate that we consider the Amazon as a vital part of the earth system that’s essential to the security of our planet as well as being a critical part of a prosperous future for Brazilians and all of society.
The existing protections and land designations enshrined in Brazilian legislation have been instrumental in our organisations having trust that our products, services, investments and business relationships in Brazil are aligned with the commitments we hold as environmentally and socially responsible enterprises, and that our customers and stakeholders expect of us.
Our door remains open to work with Brazilian partners on supporting the development of sustainable land management and agriculture. We are willing partners to enable this in a way that supports economic development whilst upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities.
These critical goals must be achieved without putting at risk the progress that Brazil has made so far in protecting the vital ecosystems that are essential for the health of the world we all share. However, if this or other measures that undermine these existing protections become law, we will have no choice but to reconsider our support and use of the Brazilian agricultural commodity supply chain. We urge the Brazilian government to reconsider its proposal.
Some article about the news:
British supermarkets threaten Brazil boycott over proposed forest law | Reuters
Retail pushback: Europe firms threaten Brazil over deforestation | Climate Change News | Al Jazeera
PREVIOUS LETTER
19 May 2020
Microsoft Word - Letter from Business on Amazon_final.docx (retailsoygroup.org)
An open letter on the protection of the Amazon
To the Deputies and Senators of the National Congress of Brazil, The Amazon is one of the most vital landscapes on our planet: it not only contains 30% of the world’s rainforest but it is also home to 10% of all known species. More crucially, the Amazon plays a critical role in regulating global climate, the water cycle as well as its role in system resilience which is fundamental for planetary health.
We also recognise that it is also a crucial economic resource for Brazil, for both now and in the future. Last year, widespread fires and destruction in the Amazon made news across the globe. As global businesses and investors with interests in Brazil, we have welcomed and wish to see a continuation of Brazil’s leadership on forest law and agreements like the Amazon Soy Moratorium.
We know that we must ensure that protecting the Amazon is economically more attractive than destroying it, reflecting its true value to the world – and we want to work with all Brazilian stakeholders on this.
What remains essential is that further destruction is halted. We are deeply concerned about the Provisional Measure 910 (now changed to PL 2633/2020), that has been submitted to the Brazilian congress for a vote, and which would legalise the private occupation of public lands, mostly concentrated in the Amazon. Should the measure pass, it would encourage further land grabbing and widespread deforestation which would jeopardise the survival of the Amazon and meeting the targets of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and undermine the rights of indigenous and traditional communities.
We believe that it would also put at risk the ability of organisations such as ours to continue sourcing from Brazil in the future. We want to continue to source from and invest in Brazil and help ensure that protecting the Amazon can be economically productive for all. We urge the Brazilian government to reconsider its stance and hope to continue working with partners in Brazil to demonstrate that economic development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.
Signatories:
AB Agri Ltd Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) Ahold Delhaize ALDI SOUTH Group AP7 (Sjunde AP-fonden) Asda Stores Ltd. British Retail Consortium Burger King UK Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes Co-op Switzerland The Co-operative GroupDominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids Donau Soja EdenTree Investment Management Hilton Food Group Iceland Foods Jerónimo Martins SGPS S.A. Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Kerry Group KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Lidl Great Britain Marks & Spencer METRO AG Migros Moy Park Nando’s National Pig Association NorgesGruppen ASA Ocado Pax World Funds Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation ProTerra Foundation Retail Soy Group Rewe Group Robeco J Sainsbury Plc Skandia Storebrand Asset Management Swedbank Robur Fonder AB Tesco Stores Plc Tulip Ltd Waitrose & Partners Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc
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