The Global Canopy podcast

For 10 years Global Canopy has been publishing its Forest 500 report, assessing the deforestation record of the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions most exposed to tropical deforestation. In this podcast - to mark the launch of the tenth report - you'll hear about the 10 lessons that can drive real deforestation change. Ten years has seen the collection of 1.3 million data points that are used to assess the strength and implementation of the 500's publicly available deforestation, ecosystem conversion and human rights commitments and policies. In this podcast, the Independent's senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle is joined by Giulia Carbone, Director of Natural Climate Solutions at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Grace Iara, Lead convenor of the Alliance for the Amazon, Global Canopy Executive Director Niki Mardas and Pierre Cannet, Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth. Learn more and read the report at www.forest500.org

Forest IQ is a powerful new data platform for financial institutions that for the first time brings together aligned, best-in-class, and actionable data on how more than 2,000 major companies are addressing their links to deforestation. This podcast is taken from the launch event and explores how the platform can enable financial institutions to easily screen portfolios, engage with the most relevant companies, manage deforestation risks and achieve their climate and nature targets. There is no way to meet net-zero targets without an end to deforestation and its launch comes at a time of growing policy and compliance pressure on the finance sector to act. You'll hear from Global Canopy's Executive Director Niki Mardas introducing Forest IQ, before a panel discussion led by - Danielle Carreira from the World Economic Forum, questioning Tim Steinweg from the PRI, Emily McKenzie from the TNFD, Eugenie Mathieu from Aviva Investors and Gemma Corrigan from Federated Hermes.

Traders will struggle to prove that soy from Brazil complies with its environmental laws due to gaps in official data, according to new analysis by Trase and Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV). If it can't be proved that soy complies with national environmental regulations, this will impact international trade, especially to the EU because of the requirements made by the new EU Deforestation Regulation. In this podcast, Trase and Global Canopy's Andre Vasconcelos, details the findings of the study; Andre Pereira Dias, the coordinator for geo-processing and environmental monitoring in the state of Mato Grosso outlines the data his state can offer; and Salima Kempenaer from the Federal Public Service for Public Health in Belgium, brings the perspective of an EU member state. The questions are asked by Jane Lino, from Proforest Brasil.

Net-zero commitments cannot be met without action on deforestation and tackling the human rights abuses connected with it. But data released by the Forest 500 shows too few companies are incorporating human rights into their approach to deforestation – and financial institutions are even further behind. This podcast explores the human rights abuses that are linked to commodity-driven deforestation, the latest data on corporate action - or inaction, and gives practical guidance to companies and financial institutions about the steps they must take. Global Canopy's Darren Mckenzie is joined by Forest 500 lead Emma Thomson, Laura Dowley from Client Earth and Pedro Martins from Terra de Direitos.

2023 is a crucial year for action on deforestation as Global Canopy's 9th annual Forest 500 report makes clear. It ranks the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions most exposed to tropical deforestation and demands action. In this episode the former BBC Science editor David Shukman is joined by Global Canopy's Executive Director Niki Mardas and Forest 500 lead Emma Thomson, alongside sustainable finance consultant and member of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku, Emil Sirén Gualinga, and the Executive Director of Business for Nature, Eva Zabey. They discuss the current realities of deforestation alongside the positive actions that can be taken to make 2023 a watershed year for deforestation.

Global Canopy, the not for profit targeting the market forces destroying nature, brings you a podcast looking at the future of the Amazon rainforest now Brazil has a new President. After 4 years of record levels of deforestation, how can President Lula fulfill his pledge to end the destruction? Hosted by Global Canopy’s Christiane Fontes and Carlos Rittl from the Rainforest Foundation Norway, the podcast brings you the highlights from our COP27 event The Amazon on the Verge of New Future. You’ll hear from Joênia Wapichana, Brazil’s First-Ever Indigenous Congresswoman and the President of FUNAI; Mauro O’ de Almeida, Environment Secretary of the State of Pará; Márcio Astrini, executive director of the Climate Observatory and Txai Suruí, coordinator of the Movement of Indigenous Youth of Rondônia State as they look at what’s next for Brazil and what help the nation needs from the international community.