Stephanie Pfeifer is CEO of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), a European-focused investor-led membership organisation.
As world leaders meet in Belém for the so-called Amazon COP, the global financial community should seize the opportunity to declare its commitment to managing the growing investment risks posed by deforestation in the Amazon and beyond.
Besides emphasising their support for a global transition towards sustainable supply chains at the COP30 talks, investors can also help unlock the investment and financing opportunities that such a transition makes possible.
The financial impacts of deforestation-related risk are broad and growing. For long-term asset owners such as pension funds and insurers, exposure to deforestation can affect everything from investment performance to reputational resilience. For investors more broadly, addressing deforestation exposure is increasingly part of fulfilling fiduciary duty in a world with compounding climate- and nature-related risks.
Tech tools to improve supply chain traceability
To that end, many investors are already taking meaningful steps to address deforestation risk.
Some are working directly with portfolio companies to improve traceability, strengthen supply chain policies, and support the economic inclusion of smallholder farmers. Others are using geospatial tools and satellite data to monitor deforestation in real time and inform engagement discussions. There has also been positive momentum in integrating deforestation into risk assessments, stewardship strategies, and exclusions policies.
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This work cannot be done in isolation. For investors looking to accelerate action, collaboration will remain key. Global initiatives like the Finance Sector Deforestation Action (FSDA), launched at COP26, have raised the bar of ambition for investors seeking to address agricultural commodity-driven deforestation risks in their portfolios.
EUDR should be implemented without further delays
While previous COPs highlighted the urgent need to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, only a few countries have taken steps to drive that action through policy.
One of the few jurisdictions mounting a comprehensive approach to deforestation is the European Union, with its Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – a prime example of ambitious policy that can transform supply chains while protecting company competitiveness.
In its current form, the regulation frames deforestation as a material business risk and safeguards companies taking proactive steps toward deforestation-free supply chains by ensuring that non-compliant companies are penalised for falling short on due diligence. Given the level of ambition, the multiple changes in direction around the implementation of the EUDR have understandably raised concern.
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Last year’s delay of the EUDR was disappointing for many investors, who view the regulation as a critical lever in mitigating deforestation risk exposure. The EU’s recent announcement that it will no longer propose a further one-year delay but instead implement a six-month transition period to ensure the legislation enters into force as planned is a more positive sign.
We’re pleased that the voices of investors and businesses calling for a timely implementation – given the importance of the law and the work done by a number of producer countries – have been taken into account.
Maintaining momentum, beyond policy
Though some provisions of the EUDR still lack certainty, public policy remains integral to redirecting financial flows towards deforestation- and conversion-free production systems.
A clear, well-designed regulatory environment provides investors with the consistency and confidence to scale solutions and make long-term decisions for financial stability and sound risk management. Continued engagement with policymakers is therefore essential, with COP30 providing a crucial platform to advance public-private dialogue on global deforestation.
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It is important to remember, however, that regulation is not the only lever for progress. The need for meaningful investor action – and for maintaining momentum – continues.
When IIGCC assumed the secretariat role for FSDA in 2024, the aim was to advance the initiative’s ambitious agenda and mainstream deforestation action across the investment community. As FSDA concludes its four-year term in December, IIGCC will continue this work through the Deforestation Investor Group (DIG) – an investor-led platform that will maintain momentum for multistakeholder action, align with global goals, and be reinforced by IIGCC’s forthcoming guidance on integrating deforestation into net-zero planning.
Ten years on from Paris, forests are firmly a climate issue The first Global Stocktake underscored the urgent need to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 to keep 1.5C within reach. For the first time, countries were asked to report on forest-related progress, turning pledges into measurable benchmarks and cementing deforestation as central to climate targets.
The conference also built momentum around nature-based solutions, with financial commitments and policy frameworks aimed at protecting tropical forests and empowering Indigenous stewardship. The message was clear: there is no net zero without addressing deforestation.
Now, in the lead-up to COP30, attention is turning to emerging finance mechanisms – such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) spearheaded by Brazil – that directly target deforestation.
World failing on goal to halt deforestation by 2030, raising stakes for Amazon COP
For the COP30 presidency and delegates, the “Amazon COP” is a clear opportunity to align the climate and biodiversity agendas, reaffirm their interdependence, and strengthen coordination across the Rio Conventions.
With that stage already set, it’s crucial that the financial sector continues engaging and maintaining dialogues with corporates, policymakers, and the wider range of stakeholders to support global efforts to address deforestation. This includes participation in engagement work such as through the DIG.
Progress remains possible, but the window for action is narrowing as deforestation continues unabated. The cost of inaction will far exceed the investment required to build resilience and end deforestation and land-conversion as soon as possible.
The post Investor action is crucial to maintaining progress on deforestation risk appeared first on Climate Home News.
Investor action is crucial to maintaining progress on deforestation risk
Climate Change
Greenpeace delivers 47 metre-long petition with half a million signatures to Woodside HQ following major gas protest
Greenpeace delivers 47 metre-long petition with half a million signatures to Woodside HQ following major gas protest
PERTH, Monday 19 October 2026 — Dozens of Perth community members delivered a giant petition, signed by almost half a million people, to Woodside’s corporate headquarters this morning, calling on the government to save Scott Reef from Woodside’s reckless Browse gas proposal.
Dressed in sea creature costumes and hats, supporters carried one of Australia’s biggest environmental petitions to Woodside’s headquarters, and a local choir performed a ‘Scott Reef’ rendition of Angie McMahon’s iconic cover of ‘Reckless’ by Australian Crawl.
On the sidelines of the Perth Global Citizen Now event, it comes following a two day-long protest at Woodside’s Scarborough gas platform that saw activists scale and occupy the Floating Production Unit calling to “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas” and “Save Scott Reef”. The activists were taken from the platform by police helicopter on Sunday afternoon.
David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “Less than a day after two Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists were arrested for their peaceful protest at Woodside’s Scarborough gas platform to save Scott Reef, we are here again with another message to Woodside: half a million of us do not want your dirty gas at Scott Reef.
“Community pressure on Woodside is rising. Today we are here to show Woodside that they can’t ignore half a million people who want Scott Reef protected, not turned into an industrialised gas zone.
“Woodside can’t be trusted with our oceans. Woodside’s plans to drill up to 57 toxic wells at Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef, putting endangered pygmy blue whales at risk, and jeopardising a nesting ground for unique green sea turtles.
“We Australians love our oceans and this is an opportunity for our governments to do the right thing, to reject Woodside’s reckless drilling plans, and save Scott Reef.”
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Media contact
Kate O’Callaghan on +61 406 231 892 or Emma Sangalli on +61 431 513 465
Climate Change
Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists in police custody after two-day protest against Woodside’s Browse gas project at Scott Reef
PERTH, Sunday 18 October 2026 — Two Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists are in police custody after occupying a gas platform at Woodside’s Scarborough gas project, in peaceful protest of the fossil fuel corporation’s plans to drill for oil and gas at Scott Reef.
NEW footage and photos of the peaceful protest available here and on Instagram
The activists used specialised climbing equipment to scale and attach themselves to a Floating Production Unit (FPU), a key piece of gas processing infrastructure at the Scarborough gas field over 200km off the coast of Exmouth, at around 05:45am AWST on Saturday and proceeded to occupy the platform for two days, displaying banners reading “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas. Save Scott Reef.”
Special police forces landed a helicopter on the FPU at around 11:30am AWST. The activists safely removed themselves from their equipment before being taken into police custody around 1:00pm AWST. At the time of writing, no charges have been laid.
David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “It takes guts and conviction to do what our activists have done, peacefully protesting Woodside’s reckless gas plans at Scott Reef.
“Woodside’s plans to drill up to 57 toxic wells at Scott Reef are outrageous. If allowed to go ahead Woodside would turn Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef, home to nesting green sea turtles and elusive pygmy blue whales, into an industrial gas zone. Around half a million people have called on our governments to stop Woodside and to save Scott Reef.
“Our activists are highly trained and experienced in these activities. West Australia has a proud history of peaceful, democratic protest at sea, to protect our oceans from environmental threats. From whaling in Albany in the seventies, to Woodside’s threat to Scott Reef today, there’s more than fifty years of history, of Greenpeace taking action off WA’s coast to protect the places we love.
“Peaceful protest has long been part of what has given us so many of the things that are great about Australia and is part of the fabric of our democracy and our national identity.”
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to a healthy democracy. From Australia to the Arctic and the Amazon, Greenpeace has been peacefully protesting for more than 50 years to expose the biggest environmental threats around the world. We will not be silenced by corporations like Woodside who actively try to stop everyday people from speaking out against their reckless plans.
“Woodside’s reckless proposal to drill at Scott Reef is an unacceptable risk to Scott Reef and to the climate, which our government should emphatically reject.”
Speaking from the Rainbow Warrior, Captain of the Rainbow Warrior Hettie Geenen, said:
“It felt powerful watching from the Rainbow Warrior as these brave activists scaled Woodside’s enormous and imposing gas infrastructure, which has no place at Scott Reef. We are all out here because we feel an urge to act, in the face of Woodside’s grave threat to Scott Reef and to our climate. Now we ask for the Australian government to act too, and reject Woodside’s reckless Browse project.
“Just before this peaceful protest, the Rainbow Warrior sailed to Scott Reef, where our whole crew got to witness the magic of an untouched, healthy reef ecosystem full of marine life. It was my second time visiting Scott Reef with the Rainbow Warrior. When you see Scott Reef up close and witness its magic first hand, it is impossible not to feel driven to try and protect it.”
The activists sailed to Scarborough on the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s flagship vessel, which is in the region campaigning to protect Australia’s oceans, including Scott Reef.
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Media contact
Greenpeace Australia Pacific media team in Perth on +61 406 231 892 or +61 407 581 404 or email media.au@greenpeace.org
Climate Change
GREENPEACE GAS PROTEST DAY TWO: Activists spend first night on Woodside’s Scarborough gas platform, “in this for the long haul”
- NEW footage and photos available here and on Instagram – more being uploaded today.
- Interviews available with campaigners on board the Rainbow Warrior on request.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists have slept overnight on Woodside’s Floating Production Unit and dropped a massive 12×14-metre banner reading “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas. Save Scott Reef”.
Two activists have set up temporary hanging tents on the South East pillar, while the other two returned to the Rainbow Warrior late yesterday afternoon, after fulfilling their initial role. The activists will occupy the platform for as long as possible.
The environmental advocacy group is peacefully protesting Woodside’s plans to drill for oil and gas at Scott Reef as part of its Browse proposal.
Sakyo Noda, one of the Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists, said: “As a Japanese person living in Australia, I feel incredibly passionate about stopping Australia’s gas exports to Asia.
“Despite what the gas industry tells us, Australia’s gas is not helping to decarbonise Asia. It is simply not true. We shouldn’t be allowing fossil fuel companies like Woodside to extract new fossil fuels, let alone at extraordinary places like Scott Reef”.
Aboard the Rainbow Warrior, Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, added, “Everyone is in good spirits. We’re in it for the long haul.”
Links:
Photos and video of Scott Reef here
Audio and footage of yesterday’s press conference here
Content and live updates will be uploaded to a live blog and Instagram
In-person interviews in Perth with David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, can be organised. Dial-in, SimSat and Zoom interviews with Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, currently aboard the Rainbow Warrior, can be organised.
Greenpeace delivers 47 metre-long petition with half a million signatures to Woodside HQ following major gas protest
