European banks and pension funds continue to finance one of the largest and most destructive palm oil giants Wilmar International, according to new research released today by Friends of the Earth Europe [1]. Well known banks including HSBC, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Rabobank offer financial assistance to Wilmar valuing over one billion euro, and European and American financial institutions own shares in the company worth €621 million [2].
Europe must urgently tackle its over-use of the world's land, finds a new report from Friends of the Earth Europe, released today. [1]
The report, 'Hidden Impacts', is based on newly available data and shed lights on Europe's role as a major user of global land resources.
Europe's high consumption levels, and insatiable appetite for meat, dairy, textiles and other products that require large areas of land, mean Europe's 'land footprint' remains one of the largest in the world.
More than 60 environmental, development and farming groups are calling on governments and financial institutions to put a stop to land grabbing financed by European pension funds, banks and insurance companies.
As pressure on world's natural resources increases rapidly, European Parliament showed overwhelming support today for measuring Europe's use of resources, in a step towards a resource efficient future, including full incorporation of resource efficiency into the Europe 2020 economic agenda. However, Europe will not make the most of the environmental, economic and social benefits of resource efficiency without clear targets to reduce, in absolute terms, Europe's consumption of resources, according to Friends of the Earth Europe.
European politicians laid foundations for a resource efficient Europe today, with wide political support shown for the need to measure Europe's resource use. This is a crucial first step towards reducing Europe's resource use, according to Friends of the Earth Europe, but the European Commission must follow suit in order for Europe to gain the benefits greater resource efficiency brings.
Brussels, January 12, 2012 – European banks, pension funds and insurance companies are increasing global hunger and poverty by speculating on food prices and financing land grabs in poorer countries, according to a new report released today (January 12) by Friends of the Earth Europe [1].
Brussels, October 10, 2011 – Europe's 'land footprint' is one of the largest in the world, and the continent is more dependent on land from outside its borders than any other, new research published today reveals. [1]
Brussels, May 3, 2011 – Friends of the Earth Europe welcomes today's European Commission plan [1] for the future of biodiversity in Europe, but warns measurable targets are urgently needed in the areas of agriculture and forestry if the strategy is to succeed. The document outlines how the 27 member states of the EU will implement the new global strategic plan for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), agreed in October last year alongside 193 nations.
Brussels/Abuja, January 21, 2011 – The much-touted biofuel crop jatropha isneither a profitable nor a sustainable investment, according to a new report released by Friends of the Earth Europe today. 'Jatropha: money doesn't grow on trees' warns investors away from jatropha – a shrub being increasingly planted for its oil-producing fruits and ability to survive in arid conditions – stating growing evidence that the crop is failing to deliver on its promises while simultaneously failing to prevent climate change or contribute to pro-poor development. [1]
Development and environmental groups today warned that EU biofuels targets are leading to uncontrollable land grabbing from poor communities in Africa, pushing more people into hunger [1]. On the day before EU Member States submit their renewable energy plans to the EU, ActionAid and Friends of the Earth Europe called on European leaders to halt the expansion of biofuels.