Opinion: ‘The Netherlands, use your influence to protect forests worldwide’
Recently, Dutch media covered the publication of a new report, issued by WWF, stating the big role the Netherlands still has in global deforestation, mainly due to our soy and palm oil imports. To counter this alarming message, Paul Wolvekamp and Tamara Mohr wrote an op-ed about the possibilities the Netherlands has to change the tide, which was published in Dutch on the website Joop.nl. Below, you find the English translation.
Opinion: 'The Netherlands, use your influence to protect forests worldwide'
A recent report by the WWF showed that the Netherlands still plays a significant role in global deforestation. We are one of the largest importers of soy in Europe, and the largest of palm oil. That's the bad news. The good news is that, as a large-scale importer of these products, the Netherlands is in a good position to contribute to a solution. We have a number of suggestions for how the Netherlands can turn the tide.
Firstly, the Netherlands can stop cooperating on the construction of infrastructure that facilitates the transport of products linked to deforestation. Our embassies are very keen to sing the praises of Dutch companies with the knowledge to help out with these projects, so that they are awarded contracts to implement them. This happened, for example, with the plans for the Brazilian soy corridor, a mega infrastructure project to carry soy quickly from the hinterland to the seaports, from where it can be exported to the Netherlands, other European nations and elsewhere.
Instead of supporting these projects, the Netherlands could promote our knowledge of sustainable agriculture and food systems – Wageningen University has a good international reputation in this area – so that, rather than feeding our cows, chickens and pigs, the exporting countries can provide their own population with healthy, sustainable and locally grown food.
Secondly, it is time for binding legislation and environmental and human rights standards that production chains have to comply with. The production of soy, palm oil and other products not only destroys ecosystems but also drives local farmers and indigenous people from their lands.
Until now, the Netherlands has preferred to rely on voluntary covenants with the private sector and refer to the EU for binding rules. These covenants have, however, so far led to little or no improvement.
The European Commission is currently working on new legislation to combat 'imported deforestation' – deforestation caused by products that we import – worldwide. As a large-scale importer, the Netherlands is well placed to play a leading role in Europe in this respect rather than adopting a 'wait-and-see' attitude. By approving the proposed legislation on chain responsibility now under consideration by parliament, the Netherlands can set a good example and make a credible case for genuinely robust legislation in Europe.
Finally, this report by the WWF is the latest in a series of wake-up calls that something needs to change urgently within the agrarian sector in the Netherlands. The livestock population needs to be reduced, with better prices and prospects for farmers, so that we can address our international footprint, farmers' incomes and the domestic nitrogen problem at the same time. Food production needs to be more sustainable and the efforts of outgoing agriculture minister Carola Schouten to promote circular and nature-inclusive agriculture now finally deserve broad support. The counter-argument that we in the Netherlands feed the world with our efficient food production is a fallacy because, at the same time, the word is feeding the Dutch livestock population.
Let us ensure that the world can feed itself in a way that protects our planet, the climate and the living environment of billions of people. We need not be afraid of falling out of line internationally. With these concrete actions, a new government can show the world that the Netherlands is genuinely an innovative international actor in the agrarian sector and is seriously pursuing compliance with the international climate agreements.
Tamara Mohr and Paul Wolvekamp are policy officers at environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS
For more information
Read more about this subject
-
Dossier
Fighting for improvements in the production of palm oil
The production of palm oil is causing social and environmental problems worldwide. Both ENDS is working to make the sector fairer and more sustainable and is promoting alternatives for palm oil.
-
Dossier
Soy: trade in deforestation
The rising demand for soy is having negative consequences for people and the environment in South America. Both ENDS reminds Dutch actors in the soy industry of their responsibilities and is working with partners on fair and sustainable alternatives.
-
Letter / 15 December 2022
No export credit support for Santos FPSO
In October this year, the Dutch government published a policy to implement the COP26 statement in which it promised to stop public finance for fossil fuel projects abroad by the end of 2022 . In spite of this pledge, the Netherlands is considering granting an export credit insurance to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel that will be used to produce oil and fossil gas in Brazil for a period of 30 years.
-
Transformative Practice
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
About one in every six people, particularly women, directly rely on forests for their lives and livelihoods, especially for food. This shows how important non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and forests are to ensure community resilience. Not only as a source of food, water and income, but also because of their cultural and spiritual meaning.
-
Publication / 14 December 2022
-
Press release / 5 December 2022
Groups react with dismay to FMO’s position statement on Financial Intermediaries, pointing to outstanding human rights and climate concerns
On October 13th 2022, FMO published the final version of its Position Statement on Impact and ESG for Financial Intermediaries (FI statement). As civil society groups which have engaged with FMO on this topic for more than four years, we are extremely disappointed with the result. In the statement, FMO does not show sufficient commitment to ensuring its investments into financial intermediaries – which represent the bank's largest investment sector* – do not violate human rights or contribute to environmental harms.
-
News / 10 November 2022
African women raise their voice ahead of COP27 and call for climate justice
In October 2022, 150 women from 14 African Countries gathered in Port Harcourt, Nigeria for the first African Women's Climate Assembly. The aim of this Assembly was to strengthen and unify women-led struggles against dirty extractives and false solutions to the climate crisis in West and Central Africa, and propose the real development solutions that support women's interests in a good and decent life and livelihoods in a time of climate crisis.
-
Publication / 7 November 2022
-
Press release / 3 November 2022
The Netherlands breaks major climate promise to end public financing for international fossil fuel projects
Today, a week before the international climate summit in Egypt, the Dutch Government has broken a major climate promise it made last year to end public financing for international fossil fuel projects. International and Dutch NGOs argue that the new policy published by the Dutch Government on restricting finance for fossil fuels has such significant loopholes, that it essentially means The Netherlands has reneged on its promise.
-
Transformative Practice
Analog Forestry
Analog forestry is a transformative approach to the ecological restoration of degraded lands. Natural forests are used as guides to create ecologically sustainable landscapes, which support the social and economical needs of local communities.
-
News / 24 October 2022
Termination of Energy Charter Treaty by the Netherlands helps global energy transition
The decision of Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is good news for the energy transition in the Netherlands and beyond. Governments of countries that are party to this treaty can therefore shape the transition to sustainable energy without having to fear claims by Dutch-based businesses.
-
Letter / 19 October 2022
Both ENDS' input to the 'Consultation Feminist Foreign Policy' of Ministry of Foreign AffairsZa
In May 2022, Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs and Minister Schreinemacher for International Trade and Development Cooperation announced that also The Netherlands will work towards implementing a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP). This means that within its Foreign Policy, the Netherlands will pay more attention to inclusivity in general and specifically to women's rights and gender equality, including LGBTIQ+. This feminist lens will be central to all aspects of foreign policy; security, trade, diplomacy and international cooperation.
To foster an inclusive process and acquire insights in what a Dutch FFP should look like, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened an internet consultation. Both ENDS welcomes the FFP and therefore gladly shares its input and suggestions.
-
Dossier
Finance for agroecology
The lion's share of public budgets for climate, agriculture and development still goes to conventional agroindustrial projects that contribute to the current climate, food and biodiversity crises. Both ENDS and our partners are calling for a transition to agroecological practices that are people- and environment-friendly.
-
Letter / 18 October 2022
Letter to the EU to call for strong EU regulation on deforestation-free products
140+ organisations call on the European Ministers, Commissioners and members of the European Parliament to adopt a strong EU regulation on deforestation-free products. As "trilogue negotiations" on this law begin, we ask you to support a law that lives up to the promises of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals and upholds the EU's commitments on climate, biodiversity and human rights.
-
Transformative Practice
Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration
In various countries in the Sahel, vast tracts of degraded land have been restored by the local population by nurturing what spontaneously springs from the soil. They do this using a method called 'Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR)'.
-
Letter / 30 September 2022
CSO letter to the Netherlands on urgently implementing COP26 Commitment
Last year at COP26, the Netherlands, alongside 38 other governments and institutions, committed to the Glasgow Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition. By signing this statement, the Netherlands has committed to ending new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022- a commitment it has yet to deliver.
With this letter, 20 civil society organisations call on the Netherlands to announce its implementation policies for the Glasgow Statement ahead of the Export Finance for Future (E3F) Summit on the 3 November. The E3F Summit is a critical opportunity for the Netherlands to uphold the commitments made in Glasgow last year, alongside all other E3F members.
The recent E3F transparency report highlighted that Netherlands insured 6x more fossil fuel transactions than renewables from 2015-2020, with 3 billion EUR in fossil fuel transactions compared to only 0.5 billion EUR in renewables. This demonstrates that a fossil-fuel exclusion policy for Dutch export support is urgent, and essential, to align the Netherlands with its Glasgow commitment and the Paris Agreement.
-
Transformative Practice
Agroecology
Agroecology is a diverse set of agricultural practices, a field of science and a social movement. It aims to transform food systems towards greater ecological sustainability, social justice, and resilience. Both ENDS and CSO-partners around the world support farmers and pastoralists practising agroecology, both on the ground and in gathering political and financial support.
-
Publication / 29 August 2022
-
Press release / 29 August 2022
Billions of euros a year in support for fossil exports underscores importance of Glasgow Declaration
Amsterdam, 29 August 2022 - A recent study by Both ENDS shows that, in the past decade, the Dutch government has provided on average a billion euros a year in insurance for fossil energy projects. At the end of last year, together with 33 other countries, the Netherlands agreed to stop providing this support by the end of 2022. Both ENDS calls on the government to formulate a resolute policy that leaves no room for exemptions that contribute to global warming by more than 1.5 degrees.
-
External link / 24 August 2022
A growing movement for agroecology (Annual Report 2021)
Fundamentally changing the current food and agricultural system towards greater ecological sustainability, social justice, and resilience is a top priority for Both ENDS and our partners worldwide. Together, we are contributing to the growing global movement for agroecology. As part of the Wetlands without Borders programme, partners across the La Plata Basin region of South America further expanded the agroecological practices as a key strategy to strengthen livelihoods, fight deforestation, and conserve the region's vitally important wetlands.