The vital role of protecting European forests in the National Energy and Climate Plans Written by Riccardo Gambini, edited by Erica Gentili Time has run out for Member States to submit their final version of the updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), yet only a small number of EU
While the term “bioeconomy” hints at a green and natural alternative to the fossil economy, built on biological resources and therefore sustainable, its application comes with a much more problematic reality. The ecosystems from which these resources come are already dramatically overused; an increasing demand for biomass would pose additional pressure on global ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
As part of the Forest Strategy for 2030, the European Commission published a new proposal for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans of EU Forests in 2023. This proposal aims at “developing an EU-wide forest observation framework to provide open access to detailed, accurate, regular, and timely information on the condition and management of EU forests, and on the many products and ecosystem services that forests provide” . As Birdlife, we participated in the feedback consultation on the proposal as we strongly support this new framework. In the scope of the current ecological crisis, the law is essential to make sure of an effective implementation process of the existing legislation and the commitments taken by Member States. This article examines the pressing need for improved forest monitoring, the potential of the proposed framework, and areas that need to be refined.
Is the EU about to re-run the biofuels disaster with biogas? By Kenneth Richter, Bioenergy consultant at BirdLife Europe & Central Asia The Gas and Climate consortium (consortium of gas distribution companies and biogas associations arguing for more pipelines) has called on the EU to introduce a mandatory target of 10%
Southerners Stand Against Growing Demand For EU Bioenergy By Adam Colette, Program Director at Dogwood Alliance. Over the past several months, the European Union has spent huge amounts of time debating the impacts the bioenergy industry. Parliamentarians have heard loud and clear from their colleagues, scientists and civil society that
Green Invasion By guest author Fred Pearce, author and journalist Europe’s once peaceful forests are being invaded – in the name of green energy. To meet European Union policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable electricity and heating, governments from France to Romania are providing huge subsidies for
Is the EC taking bad biofuels out of the picture? By Cristina Mestre, Climate and Biofuels Officer, Transport & Environment July 20th was marked in bright red in many of our calendars. While waving some colleagues off on their long-awaited summer break, we were waiting for the launch of the European
Urban biowaste, a sustainable source of bioenergy? By guest author Mariel Vilella, Associate Director/Climate, Energy and Air Pollution Programme, Zero Waste Europe Although most bioenergy is produced by burning agricultural and forestry biomass, it is also generated by burning the organic parts of municipal solid waste, biowaste or urban biomass. This
Honeymoon is over for biomass in Flanders By guest author Sara Van Dyck, Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Belgium Looks like the biomass honeymoon is over as the skyrocketing price tag of large biomass plants has led to a U-turn in Flemish renewable energy policy. The Flemish government has just cancelled the
Biofuels, doesn’t look like France is learning from mistakes By guest author Camille Dorioz, Chargé de mission agriculture, FNE and Cyrielle Denhartigh, Responsible at Agriculture et Alimentation, RAC France can be viewed as the nerve center of European biofuels production. Thanks to lobbying by the national agricultural sector and agroindustry, biofuels only
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