EU delays anti-deforestation law to Dec 2025, easing trade concerns but sparking criticism over its green agenda setback.
European Union countries on Tuesday gave their final approval to delay the bloc's anti-deforestation law by 12 months, allowing the postponement to now pass into law, the Council of the EU said in a statement.
The sign-off from governments finalises a December 2025 start date for the EU's policy to ban the import of soy, beef, coffee, palm oil and other goods linked to the destruction of forests - which had originally been designed to apply this month.
The delay to the world-first deforestation policy is a blow to the EU's green agenda, which is facing pushback from industries and some governments that say EU measures to fight climate change are too onerous.
But it offers relief to companies and EU trading partners including the United States and Brazil, which oppose the policy and warn it will upend trade as many firms struggle to comply.
The EU law, initially due to take effect from Dec. 30, 2024, will require companies and traders also placing wood, cocoa, rubber and some derived products like chocolate and furniture onto the EU market to provide proof their supply chain does not contribute to deforestation, or face fines and potentially have their products turned away.
Companies exporting commodities from Europe would face the same obligations.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
European Council President António Costa has confirmed that he, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will visit Kyiv on February 24, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that recent U.S.-Russia interactions show Moscow has not abandoned its territorial ambitions in Ukraine, cautioning that appeasing Russia would set a dangerous precedent.
BEIJING, Feb 20, 2025 – China is “doing its best” to push for talks with the European Union over tariffs imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, a commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
Grenadian PM Dickon Mitchell urged former colonial powers to apologize and pay reparations for slavery in a direct address to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen at the CARICOM summit. Calls for reparations are growing, with CARICOM and the AU advancing their own plans.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
USAID has long promoted itself as a supporter of press freedom, but reports suggest its media funding may have influenced domestic narratives in Europe and post-Soviet states. With the Trump administration freezing its grants, the agency’s role in shaping global information is under scrutiny.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
Greece is struggling with severe water shortages as climate change intensifies droughts and aging infrastructure leaks nearly half of its drinking water. The crisis threatens agriculture, public health, and daily life.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has approved an agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on strategic partnership in the development and transmission of green energy.
Masdar, TotalEnergies and EPointZero, the decarbonisation division of 2PointZero, have signed a Framework for Action (FFA) agreement to expand clean energy access across Africa and Asia.
Stockholm, Sweden, February 19, 2025 – Sweden’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a class action lawsuit, initiated by climate activist Greta Thunberg and 299 other plaintiffs, cannot proceed in its current form.
Over 150 false killer whales have been stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, Australia. Rescue teams are working to save the surviving dolphins, while the cause of the stranding remains under investigation.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
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