Target: Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
Goal: Demand the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act is passed to expand state protections for regional forests and biodiversity.
Bill AB 416, also referred to as the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act, was reintroduced to Califronia legislators earlier in 2022. If passed, this bill would instate vital protections for global forests by requiring that the production of certain, destructive goods–such as palm oil, soy, beef, and rubber–follow a “forest policy” to minimize deforestation. AB 416 would be the first bill of its kind in the U.S., leaving California at the forefront of environmental rights.
Forests harbor nearly half of all species on Earth and are also home to many indigenous human communities. However, an estimated 18 million acres of forest–or, an area one fifth the size of California–is destroyed each year by industries clearing space for industry expansion. Forests are also natural buffers against climate change, since trees and other plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Worldwide deforestation has detrimental effects on global communities and measures must be taken. Sign this petition to demand California legislators pass the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Governor Newsom,
The initial failure of the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act has been met with much discontent from environmentalists and activists alike, but its recent reintroduction has brought hope for a chance at recovery. If the bill passed, California would be the first and only state in the U.S. to directly favor forests over corporate greed, and would set an example for other states to follow.
Forests provide vital habitats for a diverse range of species–they harbor an estimated one half of the world’s biodiversity–and indigenous communities. And, yet, forests are being destroyed at an increasingly alarming rate. Each year, an estimated 18 million acres of forest–than is an area one fifth the size of California–is cleared to make room for human development, endangering communities of people and wildlife that have long called these ecosystems home. Deforestation is also a main contributor to global climate change, accounting for nearly a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions.
We are asking you, Governor Newsom, to prioritize the Earth’s recovery over corporate activity and pass the California Deforestation-Free Procurement Act. The time is now to take a stance for our forests.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
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1442 Signatures