Latest report represents scientific consensus on EU forests in energy, climate and biodiversity policies By Hanna Aho, Climate and forest campaigner at Fern. Earlier in May the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) released a report about the multi-functionality of forests and EU policy. EASAC is formed by the national scientific academies
A fierce academic row over wood burning? By Sini Eräjää, EU bioenergy policy officer at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia. Last February, the high profile independent British think thank Chatham House published a report on ‘The Impacts of the Demand for Woody Biomass for Power and Heat’ making a thorough assessment
The end of Big Biomass in Flanders By Sini Eräjää, EU bioenergy policy officer at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia. A bit less than a year ago, it was stated that the honeymoon was over for large-scale biomass energy in Flanders, but now it seems clear that the affair is completely
The European Parliament made it clear: Stop promoting biofuels that cause deforestation! By Cristina Mestre, Climate & Biofuels Officer at Transport & Environment. MEPs don’t want to see biofuels that cause deforestation being used within EU borders, and they want them out of the EU market as soon as possible. They’ve
The Bioenergy Barometer: What puts pressure on our planet’s future? By Maxime Paquin, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia. Fossil fuels are fuelling climate change. In an attempt to move away from fossil fuels, Europe has explored a range of other sources of energy, capitalizing on renewable sources of energy. The problem is that
Aviation biofuels: won’t get fooled again By Carlos Calvo Ambel, Transport & Environment. Is it a good idea to fly on an aircraft powered by plant-based fuel? This is one avenue being explored by many in the aviation sector, including the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the industry itself.
Does the EU Commission’s proposal come clean on bioenergy? On Wednesday 29 March 2017, MEPs Bas Eickhout (Greens / EFA) and Jo Leinen (S&D) hosted a discussion on bioenergy sustainability at the European Parliament, in Brussels. The event summarized the research behind the climate impact concerns raised on bioenergy and
New loopholes for biomass in Commission energy efficiency proposals By Sini Eräjää, EU bioenergy policy officer at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia. While the Commission has emphasized its commitment to “efficiency first” in our energy transition, a closer look at its legal proposals have revealed that it’s more a case of
Open NGO letter on FAO’s International Day of Forests 2017 To FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva and to Assistant Director-General Castro Salazar. Original PDF letter with signatory logos. The FAO and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests have chosen to use the International Day of Forests 2017 to promote the use