Greenpeace is urging leaders from the European Union and Africa who met in Lisbon to take immediate action to prevent the destruction of African forests, which is leading to carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Stephan Van Praet, coordinator for Greenpeace International's Africa Forest Campaign, emphasized the importance of political leaders supporting a halt to deforestation in Africa. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, but release it when they decay or are burned. Deforestation is responsible for approximately 25 percent of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions of the United States. Urgent measures need to be taken. Greenpeace activists displayed a banner at Lisbon's Vasco da Gama tower urging the saving of African forests to protect the climate. Stephan Van Praet stated that Greenpeace would continue their campaign in Lisbon over the weekend. He emphasized the need for Europe to pass legislation preventing illegal timber imports to enhance their credibility in combating climate change and deforestation. Van Praet also stressed the importance of Europe taking responsibility in the international market by starting at home. The EU aims to reduce emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 as part of efforts to address the potential consequences of climate change such as heatwaves, diseases, sea level rise, and droughts.