Bangkok<\/strong> \u2014 As members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the world\u2019s largest palm oil certification system, converge in Bangkok for the group\u2019s 17th<\/sup> annual Roundtable (RT), the world is in the midst of a climate, biodiversity and human rights emergency. Global citizens have watched in horror and outrage over the past months as some of the largest remaining forested areas on the planet \u2013\u2013 from the Amazon to Indonesia \u2013\u2013 have been on fire. And the role of palm oil companies and consumer brands \u2014 including many RSPO members \u2014 in this crisis is no secret.[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n Last year, RSPO members approved a new set of Principles and Criteria that align with the global \u201cNo Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation\u201d policies of many of its members. Yet the RSPO\u2019s new standard will only be meaningful if it is audited and upheld in a thorough, comprehensive and competent way. A new report \u201cWho Watches the Watchmen 2\u201d released by Grassroots and Environmental Investigation Agency this week, exposes the RSPO\u2019s inability to assure consumers and the public that its members can uphold its standard.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n A coalition of NGOs released the following statement,<\/p>\n\n \u201cAs the world faces a climate, deforestation, and human rights crisis, we call on the RSPO and its members to fulfill their promise of sustainability and commitment to ending deforestation, peatland destruction, and violation of human rights in the production and procurement of palm oil amongst its member companies.<\/p>\n\n \u201cViolations of the RSPO\u2019s standard and procedures remain systemic and widespread, and there is little evidence that RSPO members are truly implementing the Principles & Criteria. To the contrary, research has shown no significant difference between certified and non-certified plantations, and fire, peatland loss and human and labor rights violations have been repeatedly exposed on RSPO certified plantations.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n \u201cThe planet, affected communities and workers, and global citizens can no longer afford to wait for the RSPO to slowly nudge member companies in the right direction, while allowing them to do continual harm both to the environment and people. To remain relevant in today\u2019s world, the RSPO must urgently strengthen its assurance systems and make the entire process\u2014certification, monitoring, audits, complaints, and enforcement\u2014credible and robust. We call on all RSPO members to take up this call to action with the necessary urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Signatories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Environmental Investigation Agency<\/p>\n\n Friends of the Earth Japan<\/p>\n\n Grassroots<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace<\/p>\n\n HUTAN Group<\/p>\n\n Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN)<\/p>\n\n Organisasi Penguatan dan Pengembangan Usaha-Usaha Kerakyatan (OPPUK)<\/p>\n\n Rainforest Action Network<\/p>\n\n SumOfUs<\/p>\n\n Verit\u00e9 Southeast Asia<\/p>\n\n Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat<\/p>\n\n Kaoem Telapak<\/p>\n\n IAR Indonesia Foundation (YIARI)<\/p>\n\n Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) [1]<\/sup><\/a> Greenpeace. \u201cBurning Down the House: How Unilever and Other Global Brands Continue to Fuel Indonesia\u2019s Fires.<\/a>\u201d November 4, 2019.<\/p>\n\n [2]<\/sup><\/a> Grassroots, Environmental Investigation Agency. \u201c Who Watches the Watchmen 2: The continuing incompetencce of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil\u2019s assurance systems.<\/a>\u201d November 2019.<\/p>\n\n [3]<\/sup><\/a> Morgans, C.L. et al. (2018) Evaluating the effectiveness of palm oil certification in delivering multiple sustainability objectives. Environmental Research Letters. 13(6).<\/p>\n\n Carlson, K.M. et al. (2018) Effect of oil palm sustainability certification on deforestation and fire in Indonesia. PNAS. 115 (1): 121-126.<\/p>\n\n Nagari Institute, Masyarakat Kehutanan Lestari, and Forest Peoples Programme. \u201cSurvey of Human Rights Violations in the Oil Palm Concession Areas of Wilmar International in West Sumatra<\/a>.\u201d November 4, 2019.<\/p>\n\n
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