Our destruction is making the Amazon dangerously unbalanced. If we continue, the Amazon as we know it could soon come tumbling down, for good.
But thanks to your pressure, the UK Government are finally listening. Right now, they are considering new laws that could bring an end to our role in the destruction – making sure products imported to the UK aren’t fuelling the demand for deforested land. This would be a huge step in preventing the Amazon, and other precious places, from collapsing.
Thank you to everyone who responded to the government consultation.
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It’s shocking enough that we’ve destroyed nearly a fifth of the world’s biggest rainforest. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. It might look like there’s a lot of forest still standing, but our destruction is making the Amazon dangerously unbalanced.
We are approaching a point where the Amazon will no longer be able to sustain itself. If we push it too far, the Amazon will collapse – with devastating impacts for our climate. Huge chunks of forest will stop functioning as they should, becoming drier, like a savannah, and releasing vast amounts of carbon, usually stored in the trees, into the atmosphere.
We don’t know for sure where the point of collapse is – but some scientists estimate that it could be reached if we destroy just 5% more. The Amazon is wobbling, and products being imported to the UK are part of the problem.
If we do push the Amazon to collapse, there’s no return. The Amazon as we know it will be gone forever, and we will have lost the fight against climate change. It’s as simple as that.
But there is still hope. We still have time to stop and turn back. Every tree we protect, every fire we can avoid, makes catastrophe less likely. And the UK Government can lead the way.
Right now, thanks to your pressure, they are asking for your views on how they should tackle deforestation in our supply chains. If they hear from enough of us, they will act.
This is our moment to demand change.