Description
Background
Tropical forests continue to be felled at an alarming rate. Almost 90% of this destruction comes from conversion of forests to agricultural land for commodities such as beef, leather, soy, pulpwood, and palm oil. Europe’s forests are also under increasing pressure from industrial logging as forest biomass is seen as a ‘renewable’ energy feedstock in Europe’s energy transition.
After China, the EU is the second biggest importer of agricultural goods which cause deforestation - much of it illegal. The EU’s imports of these 'forest-risk commodities' do not just drive deforestation, they fuel human rights abuses, from child labour to land grabs. In December 2022, thanks to the unstoppable energy of a huge network of civil society organisations, the EU institutions agreed a new Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR).
This law – a world first - makes it illegal to import or export products derived from soy, cattle (beef and leather), palm oil, cocoa, coffee, wood and rubber to or from the EU if they have been produced on land deforested after 2020 (for agricultural products) or caused forest degradation after 2020 (for wood products), or their production contravened national law. The European Commission has committed to supporting producer countries to meet the EUDR requirements, something which is crucial to prevent a backlash from producer countries who see this law as green protectionism.
This law has drawn criticism from several corners, highlighting weaknesses in the theory of change that market access laws can lower deforestation levels. Several stakeholders doubt that the law will be sufficiently implemented to send strong enough market signals that production must change. European civil society are working hard to maintain momentum, and to build strong alliances with southern organisations who can investigate what is happening on the ground, and use the momentum of the law to improve national traceability systems and law enforcement, or even increase the ambition of national laws.
The EUDR has also drawn criticism that the EU is only one of several consumer markets, and that unless similar regulations are developed in other consumer jurisdictions, producers may choose to divert their trading partnerships and increase exports to other consumer markets, such as Australia, the United States (US), Japan, India and China. This phenomenon is known as leakage. Fern has been acutely aware of this risk and included work on collaboration with other demand side markets in its campaign strategy since 2015. As the EUDR will be enforced by the end of the year, the time to progress on this strand of the strategy is ripe. The central question is, what will move other markets to adopt similarly strong supply-chain policies?
Market access laws are being discussed in various forms in different jurisdictions. The US is most advanced, with a public procurement bill being discussed in New York and California, and a National Bill also on the table. In India, Fern has made contact with several organisations interested in sparking green policy discussions. In Japan, no contact has been made by Fern so far, despite it being an important market for Indonesian forest risk products. In China, some organisations have been discussing next steps. Given the size of its market, Fern has so far prioritised exchanges with organisations in China, and is organising a meeting in March around these questions.
Assignment
Fern is seeking a consultant to develop a campaign strategy around the role that European organisations can play in stimulating green supply chain policies in China.
Key questions include:
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What are culturally appropriate ways to campaign on China to avoid leakage of forest risk commodities to the region?
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In which national and international policy spaces will such advocacy be most likely successful and what are upcoming opportunities?
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How can Chinese civil society and European organisations best cooperate to achieve results?
Timeline
Fern requires that there be a first draft by early September, and a final version to be delivered in October.
Application
To apply for this assignment, please send your CV, a short proposal and proposed budget by 20 May to info@fern.org.