Much ado about nothing – how the review of EU bioenergy legislation turned into a puff of smoke On July 14, the anniversary of the French Revolution, the European Commission published “Fit-for-55”: a package of proposals designed to revolutionise climate legislation, with the overall aim of reducing the EU’s emissions by 55% by 2030. One […]
The six fatal flaws of the Commission’s draft bioenergy proposals A draft of the Commission’s review of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) was leaked on 16 June. It does nothing to solve any of the serious climate and biodiversity threats posed by the EU’s bioenergy rules. NGOs and scientists insist the final document (expected 14 […]
The EU must stop burning its forests and biodiversity NGOs ask the European Union to stop supporting fake ‘renewable’ energy that burns forest biomass The EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has had a devastating effect on forests so far, but thanks to the European Green Deal, this can change. Right now, there is a major […]
Land is a finite resource. Yet growing demands are putting increasingly competing pressures on the world’s land and ecosystems. A new report by Birdlife Europe investigates those competing pressures on land in light of the climate and biodiversity crises, and the findings are crystal clear. Governments and industry must stop burning trees for bioenergy, and […]
Stop subsidising the tree-burning industry: EU Commission study confirms bioenergy is risky for climate and biodiversity As you read this article, trees and crops are being burned for energy in the name of climate action. You see, under EU law, “bioenergy” is supported as if it was a green, zero-carbon form of energy, which means […]
Burning trees is not a climate solution #StopFakeRenewables When you hear the word ‘renewables’ you probably think of solar panels and wind turbines. Clean, carbon-free energy derived from the forces of nature. The truth is that in Europe, more than half of what we call ‘renewable energy’ actually comes from burning wood and crops. This […]
NGOs call on the EU Commission to end support for burning trees and crops for energy in the Green New Deal. For many years, EU policies have encouraged the burning of types of bioenergy that increase emissions compared to fossil fuels. Member States are subsidising this harmful industry to the tune of billions of euros […]
EU Audit shows agriculture and forestry policy not strong enough to fight climate crisis EU Court of Auditors says agriculture and forestry sectors need to improve EU GHG emissions reporting Greater action and stronger policy is needed in order to meet GHG emission targets The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Europe’s most expensive and controversial policy, […]
Fighting deforestation: Efforts to enforce the EU Delegated Act on Biofuels begin to take traction By Luke Edwards, Climate Change and Land Use Policy Officer at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia A landmark decision in February 2019 saw the European Commission produce a delegated act regarding the use of biofuel feedstocks which cause deforestation or have […]
By Kenneth Richter, Bioenergy consultant at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia Over 100 organisations from across the globe have published a joint declaration calling on governments, financiers, companies and civil society to halt the expansion of the biomass-based energy industry and to move away from its use. Bioenergy (energy from the burning of biological materials, mostly […]