Greenpeace is calling on leaders from the European Union and Africa who met in Lisbon to take immediate action to prevent the destruction of African forests, which is contributing to carbon emissions and climate change. According to Stephan Van Praet, coordinator for Greenpeace International Africa Forest Campaign, it is crucial for leaders to use their political power to support a stop to deforestation in Africa. Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and release it when they decay or are burned, making deforestation a significant contributor to man-made carbon dioxide emissions. The United Nations estimates that deforestation is responsible for approximately 25 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the amount produced by the United States. Van Praet emphasized the importance of urgent action by leaders to address this issue. Greenpeace activists displayed a banner at Lisbon's Vasco da Gama tower on Friday with the message "Save the Climate-Save African forests." Stephan Van Praet stated that Greenpeace would continue their campaign in Lisbon over the weekend. He emphasized the importance of Europe implementing legislation to prevent the import of illegal timber to enhance the continent's credibility in the fight against climate change and forest destruction. Van Praet believes that Europe should begin by taking responsibility in their own market to set an example internationally. The EU aims to reduce emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to address the potential consequences of climate change such as heatwaves, disease, rising seas, and droughts.