Committee warns consumers to change shopping habits

British consumers have been urged by MPs to change their shopping habits in order to help fight global warming and prevent deforestation.

A report by the Environmental Audit Committee found that deforestation can be curbed if the demand for harmful products is reduced and Brits alter their patterns of consumption.

The committee suggested that the government must take away economic incentives that currently encourage deforestation, while also helping developing countries to maintain their own rainforests.

Tim Yeo, chair of the committee, said: "Giving rainforest nations money for protecting forests is simply not enough, yet so far negotiations have focused almost exclusively on the design of a payment mechanism."

He warned that failing to prevent rapid deforestation could "undermine" all the efforts that are currently being made to fight global warming.

A group of environmental organisations including the Global Forest Coalition, the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Rainforest Action Network recently called on world leaders to do more to tackle deforestation.

Written by Sandra Mann

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