Clean energy has a dirty secret

The quest for biomass is destroying forests.

Almost 40 per cent of total EU wood consumption is for energy use.

Unconstrained bioenergy use increases emissions and decreases forest carbon sinks.

Biomass is not the green dream solution

It’s a matter of scale

So where has it all gone wrong?

Forests have multiple uses, for• The climate• Biodiversity• People• Materials• Livelihoods• Food

There is not enough wood…

When we remove forests, emissions go up, and biodiversity goes down.

Full briefing

here:

…in Europe…

“850,000 tonnes of biomass are needed annually from within 400 kilometers of the plant… With 80% of the

biomass expected to come from trees cut for this purpose.” (see Gardanne case study)

“This project will turn our local wood sector upside down.” (see Gardanne case study)Full case

study here:

…or anywhere…

“The wood pellet industry is a growing threat to North Carolina’s valuable wetlands, forests and the

life those ecosystems support.” (See Drax case study)

“…the Drax company opened two new mills in Louisiana and Mississippi to convert pine logs into

pellets for shipping to the UK.” (see Drax case study)

Full case study here:

Burning biomass can be worse than burning coal…

Carbon released from biomass heats the planet as effectively as

carbon released from coal.

Full briefing

here:

…accounting for emissions at the point of harvest doesn’t work…

Carbon accounting rules are flawed and provide no guarantee of

emissions savings from bioenergy.Full briefing

here:

…and it’s rarely sustainable

Sustainable Forest Management is a dangerous delusion. The claim that

SFM can be relied on to protect Europe’s forests and help achieve a

sustainable bioenergy policy is a fallacy.

New briefing!

Who has the power to fix this?

Depending on EU policies being written now, biomass will either help or harm the climate...

EU climate and energy policy post 2020

Read it here:

EU energy framework post 2030

Read it here:

So what can I do?

Call on EU Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete to agree an EU bioenergy policy which

protects our climate, crops and forests.

Join this Thunderclap for the Bioenergy International Day of Action on 19 October

New #EUbioenergy policy MUST protect our climate, crops & forests - Make it right #Šefčovič & #Cañete! #SOSforestshttp://ctt.ec/14cXZ

Click here to tweet!

http://www.fern.org/campaign/bioenergy