The Norwegian parliament recently made a pledge by calling for the adoption of policies to ensure a zero deforestation.
While other companies have adopted similar pledges and policies, Norway is now the world leader in countries making this commitment.
It was made in Recommendation of the Norwegian parliament’s Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment.
“In its recommendation the Committee requests, among other things, that the government ‘impose requirements to ensure that public procurements do not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest.” Rainforest Foundation Norway explains.
The foundation also added by saying that specific policies will be formulated and enacted by the government as a result of the pledge.
This is an important step in moving international efforts to help put a rest on the destructive practice.
The production of just four commodities (beef, palm oil, soy and wood products) is said to blame for 40% of tropical deforestation in countries with high rates of practice, according to Climate Action, a partner of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Since trees are the most essential part of the water cycle, having less of them can lead to forests becoming desert and with less trees, it may not assist the absorption of greenhouse gasses, thus allowing for continued and increased climate change.
As reported by Reuters, Norway pledged in 2008 and gave $1 billion to Brazil’s Amazon protection fund, and this helped to overcome deforestation by 75% in seven years, according to CNN.