Summary
Tackling deforestation is essential to meet net-zero climate targets. The destruction of tropical forests is often preceded or accompanied by human rights abuses including labour rights abuses, land use conflict and failure to secure the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples and local communities. If companies and financial institutions are serious about tackling deforestation they must take comprehensive action on the associated human rights abuses. Forest500's second annual human rights briefing explores this connection, with data showing that the majority of the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest influence on tropical deforestation are failing to take sufficient action to prevent human rights abuses associated with deforestation and land conversion.