A group which represents Catholic dioceses in Brazil and the aid charity CAFOD, are arguing that UK businesses should not be complicit in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. 

They say Boris Johnson has a "once in a lifetime" opportunity which he cannot miss to protect Amazon from global deforestation by improving the standards of UK businesses who work in the Amazon. 

The House of Lords is debating the UK Environment Bill on Monday as the Brazilian Congress is debating bills proposed by the Brazilian Government which would legalise deforestation practises and reduce the protection of indigenous lands. 

REPAM Brazil, a group which represents church-based organisations and Catholic dioceses across the Brazilian Amazon, has joined UK Catholic charity CAFOD to call for a stop to land laws proposed by the Brazilian government. 
 
According to the organisations, these reforms would grant amnesty to land grabbers and generate deforestation totalling 16 million hectares by 2027. 

Brazilian Bishops, who have previously been outspoken about the treatment of the Amazon, have actively campaigned against the bills for months.
 
In a recent letter from REPAM Brazil, they stated their "outrage" at the proposals. 
 
"If these bills are passed, neither these indigenous communities nor the Amazon rainforest will exist within the next decade," wrote the President of REPAM Brazil, Bishop Erwin Kräutler.
 
Although there are already plans in the UK's Environment Bill for a due diligence requirement for deforestation risk-commodities, the law only requires companies to comply with local laws. So, without strengthening UK policy, critics argue that it could act as an endorsement of the land reforms.