Greater trade cooperation between Brazil and China could help to ‘turn the tide’ when it comes to tackling global deforestation, a study by Stockholm Environment Institute‘s Trase project has claimed.
The agricultural trade relationship between Brazil and China is worth around $47 billion annually, with more than half (52%) of Brazil’s agricultural exports destined for China, and as such, this has a significant impact on deforestation – with Brazil-China trade alone accounting for 25% of the deforestation risk linked to international agricultural commodity trade.
As the study suggests, coordinated action between the two nations – dubbed the ‘Beijing-Brasília effect’, could help to address these shortcomings and in the process reshape global supply chains.
‘Outsized potential’
“Brazil and China have outsized potential to influence the sustainability of global agricultural supply chains and contribute to safeguarding food security for billions of people,” commented André Vasconcelos, global engagement lead at Trase.
“At a time when multilateral action faces growing challenges, bilateral cooperation can offer an effective pathway to deliver significant environmental and economic gains.”
As the report notes, deforestation risk liked to Brazil’s trade with China is concentrated in a relatively small number of producing regions, which offers an opportunity for targeted, scalable action to drive systemic change.
For example, while more than 1,500 Brazilian municipalities export soy to China, just 73 account for 75% of the associated deforestation risk.
Broader cooperation
The report highlights a number of strategic actions that the two countries could advance to establish greener trade relations, many of which are reliant on policies and business initiatives already in place.
“Scaling up this cooperation can help set a powerful proof of concept, a Beijing-Brasilia effect, paving the way for broader South-South cooperation on sustainable trade,” Vasconcelos added.
“The foundations for unlocking this effect are already firmly in place: a proven record of environmental leadership, the significance of the bilateral trading partnership, and the central role of deforestation and low-carbon agriculture in ensuring supply chain resilience.” Read more here.
