Majority back laws to protect human rights & global forests

Commissioned by the environmental justice campaigners Friends of the Earth, the survey finds that three-quarters (74%) of people across the country say UK companies should be legally required to prevent human rights abuses, while 60% want the same for global deforestation.

By contrast, just 8% think voluntary agreements are sufficient to prevent human rights abuses, and only 18% believe the same for global deforestation. The results highlight public scepticism that company promises alone can deliver meaningful change.

When asked who should bear most responsibility for ensuring products sold in the UK don't contribute to global deforestation, over a third (36%) said the UK government and 28% said companies. Only one in 20 (5%) said responsibility lies with consumers. Almost half (44%) of people say the government is doing too little to stop UK companies contributing to global deforestation.

Support for tougher rules is highest among young people. 55% of 18–24-year-olds say government action to stop UK companies contributing to global deforestation is insufficient, compared to 42% among those aged 50-64.

The polling comes as Friends of the Earth and supporting organisations Cool Earth, Fern and Global Witness deliver an open letter of demands backed by tens of thousands of supporters to climate secretary, Ed Miliband, today.

The groups are urging the government to:

• Honour the international commitment made at the 2021 Glasgow climate talks – hosted and announced by the UK – to halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030
• Champion Indigenous Peoples and local communities as the best protectors of the world’s forests
• Urgently implement long-awaited deforestation legislation, and Introduce a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act to make UK companies legally accountable for harm caused to people and the planet

Nick Rau, forest campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said:

"This polling couldn't be clearer: the British public has lost faith that we can rely on companies to behave responsibly.

“Greedy corporations have pillaged and polluted our planet at the expense of communities on the front lines of forest destruction for too long. The government must listen to the public and introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws that have real teeth. Three-quarters of the country support legal requirements to prevent human rights violations – that's an overwhelming mandate for action.

“Voluntary schemes have manifestly failed – we need legally enforceable standards that protect forests and communities. Anything less than maximum ambition to end global deforestation gives the biggest culprits driving harm a free pass to keep on cashing in at the expense of communities and the planet.”

Despite commitments made in Glasgow, 2024 was a record year for global forest decline. Clearing for soy plantations, cattle rearing, timber and sugarcane were key drivers, alongside the escalating effects of climate breakdown such as wildfires and droughts.

While Brazil has consistently topped the charts for forest loss, impacts are being seen all over the world, including in vast rainforests of Central Africa and Southeast Asia. For example, in Malaysia, the state of Sarawak has seen the country’s highest recent deforestation rates, with 29% of tree cover lost between 2000 and 2024. Logging by timber and palm oil conglomerates has had a huge impact on Indigenous Peoples, local communities and wildlife – including many endangered species in this biodiversity hotspot.

An estimated 3.4% of the total export volume of Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) timber went to the UK in 2023, making it one of the top importers globally. The scheme was established to set environmental and ethical standards for the industry but has been criticised by campaigners.

Celine Lim, a leader from the Kayan Indigenous community in Sarawak and the managing director of grassroots campaigning organisation Save Rivers, said:

"For generations our people have protected these forests, but logging companies are destroying our ancestral lands and threatening our way of life. We've seen our rivers polluted, vital wildlife habitats destroyed and community members intimidated for defending our rights.

“We, the Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak, continue to guard some of the last remaining natural forests in our region. We call on the UK government – given its strong relationship with Malaysia – to step up, support grassroots forest defenders, and champion us as an important part of the solution to climate breakdown. As the UN climate talks approach, we implore the UK to act on its commitments to push for urgent and full recognition of our land and tenure rights. Securing Indigenous Peoples' land rights is the foundation for protecting the world's forests, which is critical for global climate action.”

As well as introducing a new due diligence law to get the global goal of ending deforestation by 2030 back on track, Friends of the Earth say UK ministers must back Indigenous and local communities with direct funding and full recognition of their land rights.

The group are also urging the UK government to deliver on its Environment Act commitment – made four years ago – to ban products linked to deforestation.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

• Survey: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,192 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19-20 October 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). The full YouGov survey results are available online.  
• Letter: Friends of the Earth has written to the UK government, alongside Cool Earth, Fern and Global Witness, urging it to meet commitments made at UN climate talks in Glasgow in 2021 to halt and reverse global deforestation, and champion Indigenous Peoples and local communities as key protectors of the world’s forests. The letter has been backed by tens of thousands of supporters and can be read online.
• Glasgow Declaration: Under UK presidency, the Glasgow climate talks in 2021 – COP26 - saw the UK launch the Glasgow Declaration to “halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030”, signed by more than 140 countries globally. Yet deforestation continues to increase, and 2024 witnessed the highest ever recorded global forest loss. This year’s UN climate talks have been described as the summit for implementation. It is vital the UK uses this opportunity to show maximum ambition and drive for ending deforestation, getting the goal on track and ensuring the Glasgow commitments are met.
• Global forest loss surged to record highs in 2024, driven by a catastrophic rise in fires, according to data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab. Loss of tropical primary forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares — nearly twice as much as in 2023 and an area nearly the size of Panama, at the rate of 18 soccer fields every minute. Global Forest Loss Shatters Records in 2024 | World Resources Institute
• Malaysia timber imports: The top export destination for Malaysian timber and timber products in 2023 was the United States with RM5.70 billion in export value and a market share of 26.1%. China came second with RM2.83 billion (13.0% share), followed by Japan at RM2.82 billion (12.9% share), Singapore at RM1.51 billion (6.9% share), Australia at RM1.02 billion (4.7% share), India at RM883.77 billion (4.0% share), United Kingdom at RM739.86 million (3.4% share), the Netherlands at RM587.00 million (2.7% share), the Philippines at RM505.56 million (2.3% share) and United Arab Emirates at RM480.09 (2.2% share)  mtc.com.my/images/publication/273/MTC_2023_Annual_Report_Final.pdf
• Sarawak forest loss: In Sarawak, Malaysia, communities have witnessed devastating levels of deforestation, losing 29% of tree cover between 2000 and 2024. Sarawak, Malaysia Deforestation Rates & Statistics | GFW
• Forest Tenure Pledge 2.0: The Land and Forest Tenure Pledge 2.0 seeks to renew and expand the historic $1.7 billion Forest Tenure Pledge made at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021, with the goal of supporting Indigenous and community forest tenure rights and halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030. World Resources Institute
• Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment: The Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment, or ILTC, is a landmark commitment aimed at setting national, hectare-based targets for legally recognizing Indigenous, Afro-descendants and local communities’ land rights and strengthening existing laws governing community land tenure World Resources Institute

About Friends of the Earth: Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EWNI) is the UK's largest grassroots network. We're part of a global environmental justice community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We bring together more than two million people in 70 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit: friendsoftheearth.uk and follow us on X or Instagram at @friends_earth, or find us on LinkedIn