Accountability Framework initiative (AFi)

Recently, the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil approved legislation to restrict access to tax benefits for companies committed to no-deforestation. This law is one of several enacted or planned in Brazil that could undermine companies’ efforts to go beyond minimum legal requirements in addressing deforestation. This will particularly affect companies that participate in the Amazon Soy Moratorium. Our latest blog explains what’s going on and what this means for companies that source soy from Brazil. Click the link below to find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/esT3rTaU #Deforestation #AmazonSoyMoratorium #MatoGrosso #Brazil

📆 AFi Lead Scientist Leah Samberg will be speaking next week about getting ready for #EUDR on a webinar hosted by Sphera! Click here to register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/esRUKP5q

With #COP29 in the rear-view mirror, the AFi reflects on key outcomes from the summit and important developments related to food systems and agriculture. Highlights from the summit included: 💰 $300bn of climate finance per year was agreed as part of the discussions to create a New Collective Quantified Goal, as outlined by the Paris Agreement in 2015. 🇧🇷 Brazil launched its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), announcing its intention to reduce emissions by 67% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. 🤝 An Indigenous Peoples Troika was created by leaders from Australia, Brazil, Eastern Europe and the Pacific. 🚜 The FAO announced the creation of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers, a new platform for farmers as part of the agrifood transformation efforts. 📉 30+ countries signed the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, which aims to cut methane levels by 30% (compared to 2020 levels) by 2030. Despite this progress, mentions of food and agriculture were largely absent from the high-level outcomes of the summit. Considering land sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions account for ~25% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions, the lack of dedicated action to address the role of the land sector is worrying. Many AFi Coalition members were on site at the summit to host events and convene important discussions between key stakeholders. Read our full debrief with updates and statements from Coalition members in the blog linked below 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-q8m87Q

Environmental protection goes beyond conserving forests! 🌳 Tackling #deforestation is crucial to many key climate and nature goals, but other natural ecosystems shouldn't be left out of the conversation. The AFi has recently kicked off a new workstream to collect and analyse cutting edge science on defining, mapping, and protecting non-forest ecosystems, such as grasslands, wetlands, and savannahs. Whilst these landscapes can sometimes be overlooked in discussions around environmental protection, they are crucial for biodiversity, climate resilience, and the livelihoods of millions of people. See what AFi team members Sam Levy and Leah Samberg, alongside partners at World Resources Institute, have been doing recently to help us better understand how to protect non-forest ecosystems: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8euJVUv

🗣️ Chris Schwarz, Associate Director, AgriValue Chains, South Pole said the AFi e-learning platform is: “The go-to-address for companies to efficiently increase their knowledge and build internal capacities for developing and achieving corporate sustainability targets around deforestation, conversion, and human rights.” We launched the AFi e-learning platform in April 2024 – have you checked it out yet? There, you’ll find five modules about the Accountability Framework and four key actions for achieving responsible commodity supply chains. 🔗 More info about the AFi e-learning platform here: https://lnkd.in/e3iiQHYc 🔗 Sign up for the platform here: https://lnkd.in/eqcN9xsE

Financial insitutions have a big role to play in helping us achieve a deforestation-free world. Check out Global Canopy's Roadmap to Deforestation-Free Finance for guidance on eliminating deforestation risk from your portfolios below 👇

✨ Good news for companies: The AFi has just published a new explainer on setting no-deforestation commitments as part of the Science Based Targets initiative Forest, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) targets.    Created specifically for companies that operate in the land sector, the guide provides a set of answers on:    📔 The requirements and scope of SBTi FLAG  🌳 Setting no-deforestation commitments for SBTi FLAG  📆 The 2025 target date for SBTi FLAG no-deforestation commitments  📊 Disclosure related to the SBTi FLAG no-deforestation commitment    SBTi requires companies to adopt no-deforestation commitments for key forest-risk commodities (ie, beef, cocoa, palm oil, soy, timber, and wood fibre), as part of a validated FLAG target. This is because deforestation and other land use change has an outsized contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in the FLAG sectors.    Read the AFi’s explainer on SBTi FLAG no-deforestation commitments now:  🔗 https://lnkd.in/ei-Mbgrp   #NoDeforestation #DeforestationCommitments #CorporateDisclosure #Commodities #FLAGtargets #LandTargets #LandUse

Today is Food, Agriculture, and Water Day at #COP29 in Baku! Did you know that over 20% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from the land sector, which includes agriculture and forestry? Deforestation and conversion are major drivers of those emissions because of the CO₂ emitted when clearing trees/other vegetation through logging or burning, or from soil when establishing new cropland. Food systems and land use are an essential piece in solving the climate puzzle. Read the AFi's article on how companies can take action climate by addressing their land use emissions here: https://lnkd.in/et3Bj3WD

COP29 is halfway done! See what to expect this week with an update from AFi Coalition member World Wildlife Fund 👇

Launching in January 2025, Preferred by Nature's Due Diligence Toolkit will help companies elevate their responsible sourcing efforts. Stakeholders are invited to test and provide feedback on the toolkit before its official release. More info below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eRS7iD8b