World News for Students of English

04-11-2026 07:00

The EU will start using new anti-deforestation rules on 30 December 2026. Companies which sell products like palm oil, coffee, and chocolate must prove they don’t cut down trees to make them.

But environmental groups in Indonesia found that big international brands may be breaking these rules. Well-known companies like PepsiCo and Unilever recently bought palm oil from plantations linked to illegal forest clearing.

Some countries, including the US and Indonesia, asked the EU to make the rules easier for businesses. But environmental activists say Europe must stay strong and enforce the law. Indonesia lost many forests to farming and fires, so strict checks are needed to protect nature and stop global forest destruction.

Difficult words: anti-deforestation (about preventing or stopping the clearing of forests), brand (a product made by a company under a particular name), enforce (to make sure that a rule is followed).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.