Climate Action: The Urgent Need for Implementation
The discussions at COP29, Climate Week NYC 2024, and other climate events are centered around the urgent need for action to address the critical moment humanity and the planet are facing. Across all spheres, from industry to public policy and technology, stakeholders are united in their commitment to advancing climate action.
The Challenge: Turning Ambition into Reality
Today, the question is no longer "Why" but "How." While ambitious commitments to carbon neutrality and sustainability abound, it is essential to ensure that all actors in the value chain, particularly in Africa, have the necessary tools and financing to achieve these goals. The EU's Deforestation Regulation (RDUE) requires coffee exporters supplying the European market to certify that their coffee is not grown on deforested land after 2020. Compliance with this regulation demands coordinated and consistent action across public policy, technology, and finance, with digital traceability systems being key to tracking coffee "from farm to cup."
Avoiding the Risk of Coffee Export Collapse in Africa
Given the complexity of compliance requirements, the question is what can be done to mitigate the risk of coffee export collapse and related job losses in Africa. First, geographic information systems must be utilized to create detailed datasets on forest cover reference levels in 2020 and gather information on current farm-level coverage to verify deforestation status. To develop this critical aspect of compliance, an affordable digital solution, funded through public-private partnerships, is necessary.
Financing and Capacity Building for Compliance
Beyond selecting suitable digital solutions, it is crucial to finance the purchase of these solutions and train value chain actors in their use. Improving the adoption and implementation of national deforestation regulations is also essential to avoid being categorized as "high-risk," which could lead to immediate suspension of coffee exports to the EU market.
The Time to Act is Now
Finally, action must be taken now! Although the regulation's implementation has been postponed to December 30, 2025, there is no time to waste, as solutions must be tested and scaled up across entire value chains. Key sector players are already developing solutions to address specific aspects of this challenge. For example, Rainforest Alliance, an American NGO focused on biodiversity and sustainability, is expanding its certification process to include the necessary data for RDUE compliance.
