UK Gov blocks report linking rainforest loss to rising food costs
What the UK government doesn’t want you to know about rainforest loss.
A blocked report, a broken system.
Last week, Downing Street reportedly blocked the release of a major government report warning that the collapse of tropical rainforests could drive up food prices in the UK. The “global ecosystem assessment” was expected to show how the destruction of the Amazon and other forests could disrupt rainfall patterns, crash agricultural systems, and lead to rising costs in British supermarkets.
Officials called it “too negative.” We call it too important to hide.
Rainforest loss doesn’t stay in the rainforest.
When forests fall, it’s not just trees that disappear, it’s rainfall, biodiversity, and food security. The Amazon literally helps make its own weather, generating rainfall that feeds crops across South America and beyond. When it dries, the knock-on effects ripple through global supply chains.
In short, deforestation anywhere means higher food prices everywhere.
“Despite the rainforest being a few thousand miles away from the UK, its destruction affects us all. In the midst of a global climate and biodiversity crisis, hiding a damning report to inform the public is morally wrong and questions the UK government’s commitments and leadership.” says Martin Simmoneau, Head of Advocacy at Cool Earth.
The truth is simple.
The blocked report described rainforest protection as an “insurance policy” for the UK’s future. It’s right. Safeguarding rainforests isn’t charity work or an overseas issue, it’s about food on shelves, stability, and survival.
Yet the UK has stalled on policies to stop imported deforestation linked to products like soy, beef, and palm oil. It’s time for transparency and accountability.
What we stand for:
At Cool Earth, we back the people who know rainforest protection best, the Indigenous and local communities. By supporting them directly, with no middlemen and no red tape, we’re proving that the most effective climate action starts at the root.
And now, as a proud member of the NGO Forest Coalition, we’re joining forces with others to push the UK government to go beyond promises calling for stronger laws, more funding, and lasting support for tropical forests and the communities who keep them standing.
The UK public deserves to know the truth about the rainforest and the real-world impact of its collapse. Because protecting forests isn’t just about saving nature, it’s about saving ourselves.