Gov. Hochul, sign the TREES Act now

The link between environmental destruction and our worsening climate catastrophe is undeniable. The Southeast is still reeling after supercharged tropical storms wreaked havoc upon the region, while the Amazon is experiencing its most devastating fires in 20 years. 

One major driver of our planet’s rapid warming is deforestation. As the incoming Trump administration readies an anti-environment agenda, states must be ready to lead with swift legislative action. New York can lead the way, starting with the Tropical Rainforest Economic & Environmental Sustainability (TREES) Act, a powerful bill awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature before the end of the year.

Tropical deforestation is caused by industries that produce everyday products like leather, cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil and paper. The European Union adopted first-of-its-kind legislation in 2023 — the EU Deforestation Regulation law — banning the import or export of these products if traced to recently deforested land. This bill was widely celebrated for how it would help halt illegal land grabbing, logging and human rights abuses. 

The TREES Act — which passed the Legislature in May — would require New York state to prove it is not purchasing products driving deforestation. If signed, it would be the first anti-deforestation law in the U.S.

Unfortunately, faltering political leadership threatens to undermine both efforts to stop deforestation. The EU Parliament just voted to approve a 12-month delay for businesses to comply with the new law, pushing back its December 30 start date. The timing couldn’t be more grim: Only one week after the delay was initially proposed, a new report revealed deforestation has increased to rates higher than three years ago.  

And in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to sign the TREES Act. As the deadline approaches, a question looms: Will Hochul prioritize regressive businesses over the state’s climate commitments? She has received urgent appeals from over 150 Indigenous and frontline organizations, over 100 civil society groups, nearly 40 New York lawmakers and forest monitoring experts 

If she vetoes the bill, she will be ignoring businesses and investors who support regulating supply chains and environmental due diligence. Companies like Nestle and Mondelez and global rubber supplier Michelin have all opposed the EUDR delay. The New York Sustainable Business Council and investors representing over $3.5 trillion in assets under management have endorsed the TREES Act, since the bill would stimulate the state economy by helping small- and medium-sized businesses compete against multinational bidders for state contracts.  

By signing the TREES Act, Hochul could kickstart the state’s procurement processes to align with changing global markets and start cutting deforestation from its supply chain. 

In 2023, over 16 million acres of forest were permanently lost and at least 300 human rights defenders in 28 countries were killed, many for defending their forests and territories. 

New Yorkers expect more from a self-proclaimed climate leader who sits as co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance. With forests under assault, Hochul must show political leadership and sign the TREES Act now, demonstrating to the world how international legal and policy efforts can save our forests and our planet.