Two-thirds of Global Cocoa Supply Agree on Actions to ... · “The ECOM Group is working...
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+ PRESS RELEASE + EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10:00 CET / 04:00 EST November 16, 2017 CONTACTS: World Cocoa Foundation Tim McCoy [email protected] +(00)1.202.550.2369 IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative Daan de Wit [email protected] +31 (0) 61.52.83.774 Two-thirds of Global Cocoa Supply Agree on Actions to Eliminate Deforestation and Restore Forest Areas BONN, Germany, November 16, 2017 -- At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), top cocoa-producing countries Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have announced far-reaching Frameworks for Action with leading chocolate and cocoa companies* to end deforestation and restore forest areas. Central to the Frameworks is a commitment to no further conversion of any forest land for cocoa production. The companies and governments pledged to eliminate illegal cocoa production in national parks, in line with stronger enforcement of national forest policies and development of alternative livelihoods for affected farmers. The two countries produce nearly two-thirds of the world’s annual supply of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate and a range of other consumer products. The set of public-private actions announced today represent unprecedented commitments on forest protection and restoration, and sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods. These combined actions, which are aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, will play a crucial role in sequestering carbon stocks and thereby addressing global and local climate change. Both countries announced plans to introduce a differentiated approach for improved management of forest reserves, based on the level of degradation of the forests. Up-to-date maps on forest cover and land-use, as well as socio- economic data on cocoa farmers and their communities will be developed and publicly shared by the governments. Chocolate and cocoa industry agree to put in place verifiable monitoring systems for traceability from farm to the first purchase point for their own purchases of cocoa, and will work with the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to ensure an effective national framework for traceability for all traders in the supply chain. The two governments and companies agree through the Frameworks to accelerate investment in long-term sustainable production of cocoa, with an emphasis on “growing more cocoa on less land,”. Key actions include provision of improved -MORE-
Transcript of Two-thirds of Global Cocoa Supply Agree on Actions to ... · “The ECOM Group is working...
+ PRESS RELEASE +
EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10:00 CET / 04:00 EST November 16, 2017
CONTACTS: World Cocoa Foundation
Tim McCoy [email protected]
+(00)1.202.550.2369
IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative Daan de Wit
[email protected] +31 (0) 61.52.83.774
Two-thirdsofGlobalCocoaSupplyAgreeonActionstoEliminateDeforestationandRestoreForestAreas
BONN,Germany,November16,2017--AttheUNClimateChangeConference(COP23),topcocoa-producingcountriesCôted’IvoireandGhanahaveannouncedfar-reachingFrameworksforActionwithleadingchocolateandcocoacompanies*toenddeforestationandrestoreforestareas.CentraltotheFrameworksisacommitmenttonofurtherconversionofanyforestlandforcocoaproduction.Thecompaniesandgovernmentspledgedtoeliminateillegalcocoaproductioninnationalparks,inlinewithstrongerenforcementofnationalforestpoliciesanddevelopmentofalternativelivelihoodsforaffectedfarmers.Thetwocountriesproducenearlytwo-thirdsoftheworld’sannualsupplyofcocoa,themainingredientinchocolateandarangeofotherconsumerproducts.Thesetofpublic-privateactionsannouncedtodayrepresentunprecedentedcommitmentsonforestprotectionandrestoration,andsustainablecocoaproductionandfarmerlivelihoods.Thesecombinedactions,whicharealignedwiththeParisClimateAgreement,willplayacrucialroleinsequesteringcarbonstocksandtherebyaddressingglobalandlocalclimatechange.Bothcountriesannouncedplanstointroduceadifferentiatedapproachforimprovedmanagementofforestreserves,basedonthelevelofdegradationoftheforests.Up-to-datemapsonforestcoverandland-use,aswellassocio-economicdataoncocoafarmersandtheircommunitieswillbedevelopedandpubliclysharedbythegovernments.Chocolateandcocoaindustryagreetoputinplaceverifiablemonitoringsystemsfortraceabilityfromfarmtothefirstpurchasepointfortheirownpurchasesofcocoa,andwillworkwiththegovernmentsofCôted’IvoireandGhanatoensureaneffectivenationalframeworkfortraceabilityforalltradersinthesupplychain.ThetwogovernmentsandcompaniesagreethroughtheFrameworkstoaccelerateinvestmentinlong-termsustainableproductionofcocoa,withanemphasison“growingmorecocoaonlessland,”.Keyactionsincludeprovisionofimproved
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plantingmaterials,trainingingoodagriculturalpractices,anddevelopmentandcapacity-buildingoffarmers’organizations.Sustainablelivelihoodsandincomediversificationforcocoafarmerswillbeacceleratedthroughfoodcropdiversification,agriculturalinter-cropping,developmentofmixedagro-forestrysystems,andotherincomegeneratingactivitiesdesignedtoboostanddiversifyhouseholdincomewhileprotectingforests.Thegovernmentsandcompanies,whichrepresentandestimated80+percentofglobalcocoausage,committofullandeffectiveconsultationandparticipationofcocoafarmersintheprocess,andpromotionofcommunity-basedmanagementmodelsforforestprotectionandrestoration.Thegovernmentswillassessandmitigatethesocialimpactsandrisksofanyproposedland-usechangesonaffectedcommunities,andensureprovisionofalternativelivelihoodsandrestorationofstandardoflivingofaffectedcommunitiesasneeded. Thegovernmentsandcompanieshavecommittedtoacomprehensivemonitoringprocess,includingasatellite-basedmonitoringsystemtotrackprogressontheoveralldeforestationtarget,andannualpubliclydisclosedreportingonprogressandoutcomesrelatedtothespecificactionsineachFramework.Speakingattheevent,Côted’IvoireMinisterofWaterandForestsAlainRichardDonwahisaid,“TheforestsofCôted’Ivoireareanessentialresourceforthesocio-economicdevelopmentofourcountry.WesupportthisFrameworkforActionandthevisionitlaysoutforpreservingandrestoringourforests,includingthenationalparks.WearepleasedthattheFrameworkisalignedwithourNationalPolicyofPreservationandRehabilitationofForestsandtheREDD+strategytosecureournaturalresourcesandhelpustoimplementit.”“TheGovernmentofGhanaiscommittedtoupholdingtheactionsagreedinthisframeworkandwilldoourparttoensuretheFramework’ssuccess.”saidGhanaMinisterofLandsandNaturalResourcesJohnPeterAmewu,“Thisincludesenhancingenvironmentalgovernanceandsupportivemeasuresthatenablecocoafarmerstoadoptcocoaagroforestrypracticesthatareclimate-smartandwellintegratedwithourREDD+strategies.”WorldCocoaFoundationChairmanBarryParkinsaid,“ThesecomprehensiveFrameworksforActionareimportantlandmarksastheyspelloutaseriesofstepsbybothgovernmentsandindustrytostopdeforestationincocoa-growingareas.Inmakinggoodonthesecommitments,thepublicandprivatesectorswillbepartneringonactionsthatresultincocoabecomingaseriousagroforestrycrop,wheredifferenttreesandcropsco-existonthesamelandandpreviouslydeforestedlandisbeingrehabilitated.Thisapproachcouldserveasamodelforothercommodities.”*CompaniesthathavethusfarcommittedtotheFrameworksareBarryCallebaut;BlommerChocolateCompany;CargillCocoaandChocolate;CEMOI;CococoChocolatiers;ECOMGroup;Ferrero;GeneralMills,Inc.;GodivaChocolatier,Inc.;GuittardChocolateCompany;TheHersheyCompany;MarsWrigleyConfectionary;MeijiCo.,Ltd.;MondelēzInternational;Nestlé;OlamCocoa;Sainsbury’s;TomsGroup;Touton;TreeGlobal;andJ.H.Whittaker&SonsLtd.AdditionalcompaniesaresoonexpectedtoannouncetheircommitmenttotheFrameworks.BACKGROUND DeforestationoftropicalrainforestsisamajorissueinCôted’IvoireandGhana,whichtogetherproducenearlytwo-thirdsoftheworld’ssupplyofcocoa,themainingredientinchocolateandarangeofotherconsumerproducts.Overaten-yearperiod,approximately2.1millionhectaresofforestareahavebeenclearedinCôted’Ivoireand820,000hectaresinGhana.Onequarterofthisdeforestationhasbeenattributedtococoaproduction.Sustainablecocoaproductionprovidescrucialemploymentandincometolocalcommunitiesinbothcountries,underpinningnationalsocialandeconomicdevelopment.Acceleratedtransitiontosustainablelivelihoodsisessentialforensuringthelongtermeconomicviabilityofovertwomillionsmallholderfarmerswhoearnincomefromthecrop’sproduction.TheCocoa&ForestsInitiativewasinitiatedbyIDH–theSustainableTradeInitiative,thePrinceofWales’sInternationalSustainabilityUnit(ISU)andtheWorldCocoaFoundation(WCF),inpartnershipwiththegovernmentsofCôted’IvoireandGhana.ThefirststepwasthelaunchofanindustryStatementofIntenttoenddeforestationandforestdegradation
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inthecocoasupplychainatameetinghostedinLondonbyHRHThePrinceofWalesinMarch2017.TheFrameworksforAction,agreedtoday,resultfromaprocessthatbroughttogethermorethan500stakeholders,includingchocolateandcocoacompanies,high-levelgovernmentofficials,developmentpartners,environmentalandcivilsocietyorganizations,andfarmerassociations.TheCocoa&ForestsInitiativedrawsonlessonslearnedandgoodpracticesfromglobaleffortstoreducetropicaldeforestationinothercommoditiesandsectorsandwillcontinueoperatingtosupporttheimplementationoftheactionplansattheglobalandlocallevel.TheInitiativeisalsocoordinatedcloselywithawiderangeofglobalandlocalenvironmentalorganizations,includingtheTropicalForestAlliance2020(TFA2020),RainforestAlliance,andWorldResourcesInstitute.Theworktodatehasbeensupportedbyseveraldevelopmentpartners,includingtheUnitedKingdomgovernment’sDepartmentforInternationalDevelopment,theDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs,theWorldBank,theInternationalFinanceCorporation,andtheGreenCommoditiesProgramoftheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram.Readmorehere-TheCocoa&ForestsInitiative
RELATED QUOTES BY INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES "Eliminatingdeforestationfromthecocoasupplychainrequiresajointactionofgovernment,NGOsandindustrytotackleitsrootcauses,beitcocoafarmerpoverty,climatechangeorpollution.TheseFrameworksforActionareagreatstepforwardandgiveconfidencethatwewillrapidlyseemeasurableprogressontheground.”--AntoinedeSaint-Affrique,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,BarryCallebaut“Werecognizethatthecultivationofagriculturalcommodities,includingcocoa,hasbeenadriverofaccelerateddeforestationandforestdegradationoverthepast50yearsinCôted’IvoireandGhana.Buildingonourindustry’sunprecedentedcommitmenttococoasustainability,today’sannouncementacknowledgesthesharedresponsibilityandcollectivepowerofstrongpublic-privatepartnershipstoaddresstoday’sglobalchallenges.Ourfamilybusinessisproudtobeasignatoryofthiswatershedinitiative.”--PeterBlommer,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,BlommerChocolateCompany“ThiscouldbeaturningpointfordeforestationinWestAfrica,astheagreementsannouncedtodaysetanewcourseofactionforprotectingforestsinGhanaandCôted’Ivoire.Thejourneywillnotbesimple,butwewillmakeprogressmorequicklybyworkingtogether.Cargilliscommittedtodrivingsustainabilityinoursupplychainwhilepartneringwithindustryandgovernmenttofindsector-widesolutions.”--HaroldPoelma,President,CargillCocoa&Chocolate"AstheleadingFrenchchocolatemanufacturer,ourstrongcommitmenttoprotectforestsincocoa-producingcountriesechoesPresidentEmmanuelMacron'spledgeonclimatechange,‘MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain'.Throughourinvolvementin‘CocoaFriendsoftheForests’initiativeaswellasIDH’sISLAproject,CEMOIhaspioneeredcocoaagroforestryinCôted’Ivoireandhassupportedthepreservationoftheremainingprimaryforestthatisfoundinthecountry’sTaïNationalPark.”--PatrickPoirrier,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,CEMOI“WeareexcitedbytheFrameworksforActionandeagertobegin.Whataprivilegeforus—asacomparativelysmallchocolateandconfectionerycompany,operatingfarawayfromthesourcecountriesofCôted’IvoireandGhana—tohavethisopportunitytocommitalongsidekeystakeholderstoourownmeaningfulandtransparentactioninsupportofforests,sustainablecocoa,andlocalcommunityengagement.Thereisarolehereforeverybodywhoiswillingtocommit.ThecocoaindustrydependsuponWestAfrica,andwe—allofus—dependuponthesameplanet.”--BrianBeck,President,CococoChocolatiersInc.“TheECOMGroupisworkingincreasinglywithpartners,specialistsandgovernmentsincountrieswheretheGroupsourcesagriculturalcommoditiestoseektoensurethereductionandeventualeliminationofdeforestationthatmightresultfromtheproductionofsuchcommodities.InWestAfricathisinvolvesworkingwith,andsupportingthe
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livelihoodsof,smallholderfarmerswhilerecognizingtheimportanceofinvolvingabroadersetofindustryandsupplychainpartnersincludingthegovernmentsandpolicymakerstoensuretheproperdesignandimplementationofsolutionstotheissueofdeforestation.TheECOMGroupiscommittedtoworkingtothisendandisproudtobeaparticipantintheFrameworksforActionforCôted'IvoireandGhana.”--ECOM“EndorsingtheFrameworksforActionisafurthersignificantstepofourcollectivejourneythatstartedwiththesigningoftheStatementofIntent.Itrulywelcomethisconcreteagreementaimedatendingdeforestationandrestoringforestareas.Ferreroiscommittedtoworkingonthechallengestoenddeforestationinthecocoasector,aswellasimplementkeyprinciplesandstrategiesthatunderpinsociallyandenvironmentallysustainablecocoaproduction.”--AldoUva,ChiefOperatingOfficer,Ferrero“Deforestationisasignificantchallenge,butbyaligningandworkingtogether,wecanhelpputastoptoitandpositivelyimpactclimatechangebyrehabilitatingtheland.Wealsorecognizetherearesystemiclaborissuesinthecocoasupplychain,andweunderstanditwilltakeindustry-widecollaborationtomakeimprovements.Havingthenationalandlocalgovernments,whoarekeytoaddressingtheissues,atthetablefromthebeginningiskey.”--JohnChurch,ChiefSupplyChainOfficer,GeneralMills“GuittardispleasedtojointheFrameworkforActionoftheCocoa&ForestsInitiativeledbytheWorldCocoaFoundation(WCF),theSustainableTradeInitiative(IDH)andthePrinceofWales’sInternationalSustainabilityUnit(ISU),inpartnershipwiththegovernmentsofCôted’IvoireandGhana.Byworkingtogetherwithlocalgovernments,industrymembersandenvironmentalorganizations,weareabletoaddressimportantissueslikedeforestation,protectingremainingforestcoverandnationalparks,whilerespectingfarmerlivelihoods.ThroughourCultivateBetterplatform,Guittardiscommittedtoquality,leadershipandbuildingtherelationshipsthatcanbringaboutpositivechange.”--GaryGuittard,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,GuittardChocolateCompany“Cocoaiscriticaltoourbusinessandweknowhowimportantcocoafarmingisincreatingjobs,reducingpovertyandimprovingthelivelihoodsoflocalfarmingcommunities.Atthesametime,thereisacriticalneedtobalancepositivesocialprogresswithprotectingtheworld’stropicalforestsandpromotingconservationandbiodiversity.Hersheyiscommittedtothisnewframeworkasitsetsaclearpathforallstakeholders,includingnon-governmentalorganizations(NGOs),companiesinthecocoasupplychainandthegovernments,toworktogethertoeliminatedeforestationintheWestAfricancountries.”--MicheleBuck,PresidentandCEO,TheHersheyCompany“MarsbelievesinamutualrelationshipwiththegovernmentsofGhanaandCôted’Ivoirewithwhomwerelyonforpartofourcocoasupply.Togetherwithindustrypartnersandinlinewithoursustainabilitycommitments,weworktowardsensuringthatthecocoausedinourchocolateproductsdoesn’tdestroyforestsandweareprogressingwithourultimategoalofmorecocoafromlessland.”--JohnAment,GlobalVicePresidentCocoa,MarsWrigleyConfectionery“MeijiagreesontheFrameworkstoenddeforestationandrestoreforestareasandthatitisavitalroleforthecocoaindustry.ThetoppriorityoftheFrameworksistheprotectionandrestorationofforest,whileseekingsustainableagriculturalproductionandincreasedfarmerincome.Itmightnotbeeasytoclearthehurdle,butwe’reagoodandstrongteamthatconsistsofcompaniesandgovernments.Webelievewecangetagoodresult.”--KazuoKawamura,PresidentandRepresentativeDirector,MeijiCo.,Ltd.“WecallonallactorstoimplementtheCocoa&ForestsInitiativewithurgency.Inparticular,wemustbuildaclearplantosourcemorecocoafromlessland,whileensuringcocoafromdeforestedlanddoesnotreachourdirectorindirectsupplychains.Thisrequiresactionbytheprivatesector,aswellasenforcementandsocialinterventionbygovernments.Wearedeterminedtohelpmakethisinitiativeasuccessandtocontinuetoengageourconsumersintheirloveforchocolatemadewithsustainableandforest-friendlycocoa.”--HubertWeber,ExecutiveVicePresidentandPresident,MondelēzEurope
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“Deforestation isamajor issue incocoa-producingcountriesthatrequiresstrongandcollectiveactiontoaddress.WebelievetheFrameworkforActionproposedbytheInitiativewillplayasignificantroleindeliveringsector-widechange,benefitingcommunitiesandthenaturalenvironment.Nestléislookingforwardtoplayinganactiveroleinmakingthishappen.”--SandraMartinez,GlobalHeadofConfectionery,Nestlé
“TheCocoa&ForestsInitiativeisavaluablegovernmentandindustryledpartnership,drivingpositivechangefromthefarmertotheconsumer.Inparticular,thegovernmentsofCôted’IvoireandGhanahaveshowntrueleadership-inrecognizingtheproblem;creatingtherightenvironmentforbusinesseslikeOlamtoengage;andprotectingthefutureoftheircountry’sforests,farmersandcocoaproduction.”--GerardManley,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,OlamCocoa“Cocoaproductionandsustainableforestmanagementarecloselylinked,andstronglyinfluenceeachother.Thechallengeisnowtoturntheviciouscycleofenvironmentaldegradationandlowproductivityintoavirtuousoneofsoundenvironmentalmanagementandhighlyproductivesystems.Thechallengeisgreat,asisTouton’scommitmenttocontributetoaddressingit.”--PatrickdeBoussac,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,Touton“Whittaker’sisproudtobeasignatorytotheFrameworkforActiontoaddressdeforestationbecauseitissocomprehensiveandsetsouttangiblestepsforcompaniesandgovernmentstobemeasuredagainst.Wealsowelcomeitsfocusonworkingwiththepredominantlysmallcocoafarmerstoprotecttheirlivelihoodsthroughbetterresourceuse,alongsidespecificforestprotectionandrestorationactivity,whichbestpositionsthisinitiativeforlastingsuccess.OursupportbuildsonWhittaker’sexistingcommitmentstosustainablesourcing,andwewelcometheaccountabilitythattheFrameworkforActionwilldemandofthewholeindustry.”--MattWhittaker,ChiefSalesOfficer,J.H.Whittaker&SonsLtd.DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS “Theprivatesectorcanbeasignificantpartnerinfindingsolutionsthathelpaddressissuesofdeforestationwhilesupportingsmall-scaleproducersandsmallholdersthatworkinthecocoasector.IFCiscommittedtoworkingtogetherwithpartnerstosupportingthegoalsoftheframeworksannouncedtoday.TheframeworksareinlinewithwhatIFChasbeenworkingoninthecocoasectorinWestAfrica,inparticularimprovingsmallholders’livelihoods,facilitatingfarmers’accesstoworkingcapitalandequipmentneeds,andinvestinginclimate-smartagribusiness.”--NenaStoiljkovic,VicePresident,BlendedFinanceandPartnerships,InternationalFinanceCorporation“ThegovernmentsofIvoryCoastandGhana,togetherwithindustryleadersandNGOs,havecometogethertodevelopfarreachingcommitmentsandanactionplantoaddressdeforestation.RainforestAllianceandourpartnershavebeenproudtoassistinthisprocessthroughtheworkoftheAccountabilityFrameworkInitiative.Wearereadytorollupoursleevesandwithourteamonthegroundhelpwiththechallengingworkaheadwithcommunities,farmersandcompanies.CertificationprogramssuchasthoserunbyRainforestAlliance,UtzandFairtrade,canalsosupportverificationofprogressandgiveconfidencetoconsumersthatthecocoatheyarebuyingisproducedinaresponsiblemannerrespectingtheenvironmentandlocalpeople.”--NigelSizer,President,RainforestAlliance“Itisveryexcitingtoseethecocoasectorembracingpublicprivatecollaborationtoenddeforestation.Sustainableintensificationofsmallholders’estatecropslikecocoaisahugeopportunityfordeliveringsustainabledevelopmentattheforestfrontier,andcollaborationbetweenbusiness,government,andcivilsocietyiscriticalforcapturingitatscale.Astheglobalumbrellaplatformforpublicprivatecollaborationondeforestationfreecommodities,TFA2020standsreadytosupportthiseffort,andtoensureitbenefitsfromtheexperienceandmomentumoftheAfricaPalmOilInitiative”--MarcoAlbani,Director,TropicalForestAlliance2020,andExecutiveCommitteeMember,WorldEconomicForum“Wecongratulatethecompanies,governmentsandpartnersfortakingthisimportantsteptomakethecocoasupplychainforest-andclimate-smartandtoeliminatedeforestation.WesupportthiscriticalagendathroughourcollaborationwiththeWorldCocoaFoundationandGovernmentsofGhanaandCôted’Ivoire’sCocoa&ForestsInitiativeandthedevelopmentoflarge-scaleemissionreductionsprogramsintheseleadcocoa-producingnationsthataimtocreateincentivesformoresustainablelandscapes.”--JamesClose,Director,ClimateChange,WorldBank
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“Itisgreattoseethecocoasectorrecognizethathealthyforestsandproductivecocoagohandinhand.TheJointFrameworksforActionlaysoutaconvincingroadmaptoguidethismultibillion-dollarindustrytothenextsustainabilityfrontier.Apromisingapproachtoaddressadifficultproblem,theframeworkincludesgovernmentandtheprivatesectorworkingtogether,whiletakingintoaccounttheneedsofmillionsofcocoafarmersaroundtheworld.Westandbytohelpthesectormonitorandreportonprogresstowardsmeetingthesecommitments.Iftheysucceed,cocoaloverswillbeabletotakeheartthattheirchocolateisbothdeliciousandsustainable.”--RodTaylor,GlobalDirector,ForestsProgram,WorldResourcesInstitute
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