the government's timid strategy



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13 million is the number of hectares of raw wood that disappear every year in the world, mainly in South America, Southeast Asia and Africa. And in this phenomenon of mbadive deforestation, France has a responsibility far from being nnegligible, since it imports many raw materials: wood, palm oil, cocoa, soya or even rubber. According to the NGO Envol Vert, 2.4 million hectares – about the size of Brittany – are thus dedicated to the needs of only French consumers.

A disastrous situation for the environment: deforestation accounts for 12 to 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To finish, the French government unveils, this Wednesday, November 14, its "national strategy against imported deforestation" (SNCDI). Built around fifteen measures, this plan aims to stop the import of "unsustainable" forest or agricultural products by 2030.

"Cut, cut, cut": foresters are tired of having to be "profitable"

No ban on palm oil

How? The government has chosen to favor incitement to coercion. Not surprisingly, the ban on palm oil, demanded by environmental NGOs, is not on the agenda. The executive is rather the lever of development aid. Over the next five years, the French Development Agency (AFD) will devote 60 million euros per year "to projects contributing to sustainable management, the fight against deforestation and reforestation." it is the flagship measure.

To guide the consumer, and perhaps finally empower the industry, the government also announced the establishment of a platform, early 2019, which will list the commitments made or not by companies on this topic, according to the principle of "name and shame" ("name and shame"). Alerts will be sent to them in case of fraud or risk on the products they import. Conversely, the "good students" will see their valued actions.

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A new "zero deforestation" label could also be developed by 2020. As for the "zero deforestation" goal, it will be integrated into agricultural sector plans. Finally, the French government promises to adopt a "zero deforestation" public procurement policy by 2022.

"The impact of this plan may be marginal"

Highly anticipated by environmental NGOs, this strategy is far from rebaduring. Problem number one: the deadline set by the government, namely the horizon 2030. "France had yet committed to the UN to put an end to deforestation in 2020," said Clement Senechal, campaigner climate and forests in Greenpeace.

"This ten-year gap is crucial, and the Giec report a few weeks ago said that it is now and in the next ten years that we must act against global warming.

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Clément Sénéchal also points to the lack of binding measures to force manufacturers to change their practices. "In environmental matters, this government refuses to take any coercive action":

"No sanctions are envisaged, no strong regulation is put in place. plan that lacks ambition, and whose impact is likely to be marginal. "

Greenpeace also remembers that the government has, in recent months, sent signals to the least contradictory on this subject, instilling doubt as to its real determination to fight against deforestation. In May, the Total group was authorized to operate a biorefinery on its site in La Mède. Nearly 550,000 tonnes of palm oil will be imported per year, which, according to NGOs, represents an increase of 64% in French imports of this product! Then, a few weeks ago, the government ensured that the fiscal advantage of palm oil was maintained in a vote in the Assembly.

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Clément Sénéchal sees there a lack of coherence:

"The government is content to act on the qualitative, calling for the development of more sustainable sectors, but if we really want to fight against deforestation, we should also reduce our imports, and therefore our consumption, but these ads do not go into that Sens."

S. B.

Sébastien Billard

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