Press Releases

Press releases and resources for journalists from Global Witness. For general media enquiries please call + 44 (0) 7912 517 127 or email [email protected] For enquiries about our EU campaigns please contact +32 487 80 31 61.

Press release | Nov. 9, 2022
Financial institutions that pledged to reach net zero still investing $8.5 billion in companies at risk of causing deforestation

Big name members of the “GFANZ” alliance like Blackrock have increased investments in forest-risk commodities since last year’s COP26
Press release | Nov. 7, 2022
UK founded Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership must be “more than a leafy photo opp”

GW responds to COP27 announcement
Statement | Oct. 18, 2022
140+ NGOs urge EU institutions to give teeth to anti-deforestation law

Civil society urges the EU to negotiate a strong law to protect forests
Press release | Sept. 21, 2022
Forests & Climate Leaders’ Partnership must focus on action to succeed

Global Witness responds to the UN's announcement of the newly formed Forests & Climate Leaders' Partnership (FCLP):
Press release | Sept. 13, 2022
“A ray of hope for the world’s forests” – European Parliament back stopping banks financing deforestation

MEPs also voted to protect indigenous communities and expand a list of deforestation-free products
Press release | July 21, 2022
President Biden must declare a climate emergency and use his full powers to combat the climate crisis

President Biden has yet to declare the patently obvious, that the world is experiencing a climate emergency. Global Witness is among over 1,000 organizations who have urged the US President to issue an emergency declaration that would unleash the full power of the presidential authority to address the greatest existential crisis the world is facing.
Press release | July 12, 2022
MEPs back holding banks accountable in stronger EU anti-deforestation law

The EU Parliament’s environment committee also backed stronger protections for Indigenous Peoples
Press release | July 8, 2022
New report by UK government taskforce recommends UK laws to stop financial sector bankrolling global deforestation

New report from the UK government’s GRI taskforce makes a compelling case for the need to bring in legislation that stops the UK financial sector continuing to bankroll global deforestation
Press release | June 28, 2022
EU governments miss chance to strengthen anti-deforestation law, letting banks and the tyre lobby off the hook

Under the EU Environment Council's proposal, big drivers of forest destruction like rubber imports would remain unchecked and banks would continue to be able to get away with financing deforestation. EU countries have also not done enough to fully protect the land rights of Indigenous communities
Press release | June 23, 2022
Banks and financiers back beef giant JBS to the tune of almost $1bn despite links to widespread deforestation, land grabbing and slave labour in the Amazon, with tainted beef and leather entering British and European markets

Giant meat trader JBS is still sourcing cattle from ranchers responsible for widespread illegal rainforest destruction and human rights abuses in the Brazilian Amazon