Green pushback in EU may be entering a new phase

Significance The regulation, which was approved in 2023 and seeks to ban the sale of goods from deforested land in the EU, has faced a significant backlash from industry, right-leaning politicians and countries outside the EU. The Commission now also proposes making it more lenient. Impacts Under the new proposals, some of the largest producers of goods from deforestation could escape the high-risk label. Should the EUDR be implemented, third countries could impose countervailing measures. The loosening of green regulations would risk undermining firms’ commitments to reaching environmental targets. The new European Commission has indicated that it is willing to adopt a more business-friendly approach to green legislation.