Carlos Rittl’s scientific contributions

This statement makes practical proposals to address serious environmental issues raised by the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement (EUMAA). The EUMAA fails to adequately address issues of climate change and environmental degradation, both in the EU and the Mercosur countries, which poses an unprecedented challenge for these regions. It thereby fails to reflect the parties’ climate targets and other environmental commitments, such as the EU Green Deal and the Brazilian national climate policy. The EUMAA - as among the largest interregional trade agreements globally - will expand trade between the EU and Mercosur while not addressing the environmental consequences of production, consumption and transportation. In particular, the EUMAA fails to sufficiently respond to increasing deforestation rates and forest fires in the Mercosur region. In this respect, it fails to hold accountable both the EU and the Mercosur states, the former as a major consumer market for forest-risk goods. This is despite several studies projecting that the EUMAA is likely to lead to an increase in deforestation.