BirdLife Community

(c) Maris Strazds

On 29 March 2012, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau and FERN organized a breakfast event about correct carbon accounting. Several top scientists, amongst whom a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, told the audience that burning biomass for energy could release more carbon emissions than it saves.

Increasing amounts of biomass are being burned in Europe becauseis it the cheapest way to fulfil the EU 2020 renewable energy target. By then, biomass is likely to constitute over half of the renewable energy mix in Europe. However, at the event hosted by Linda McAvan MEP (UK, S&D), Bas Eickhout MEP (Netherlands, Greens) and Fiona Hall MEP (UK, ALDE) the audience heard that biomass is not actually carbon neutral as currently assumed by EU policies and that this “accounting error” could seriously undermine the EU climate goals.

A recent US study found that it takes at least 35 to 50 years for emissions from biomass to be re-absorbed while a lot of wood pellets from the US are being exported to Europe to fill our growing demand for biomass.

Burning wood often releases as much, if not more, carbon than fossil fuels, and it can take many decades for this to be reabsorbed by new growth. This casts a shadow over the usefulness of biomass as an energy source over the period in which emission reductions are vital.

Different biomass feedstocks have very different carbon footprints; therefore, environmental NGOs urge EU decision makers to account for all emissions of biomass and to only stimulate biomass that truly reduces emissions without harming biodiversity and ecosystems.

For more information, please contact Trees Robijns, EU Agriculture and Bioenergy Policy Officer at BirdLife Europe

Related posts:

1. New study casts doubt on climate credentials and sustainability of US wood in meeting Europe’s demand for energy biomass A major increase in imports of wood fuel to Europe from the US could do...
2. EU scientists confirms bio-energy accounting error A new report by the European Environment Agency highlights a major carbon accounting flaw in...
3. Solar, wind and ocean energy ‘greenest’ for Europe – but governments must do more for wildlife and climate Energy from the sun, wind and oceans can be harnessed without harm to Europe’s birds...

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