To protect nature and the climate, we must reform how the EU treats bioenergy

Forests are already under excessive pressure: In Europe, about half the wood logged today is burned, and an estimated 79% of EU forest habitats are threatened by over-logging for timber, pulp, and bioenergy. Additionally, the increased demand for wood leads to even more logging and degradation of natural forests that are vital habitats for many species.

The forest carbon sink is shrinking and will continue to weaken unless there is a significant reduction in logging pressure.

Logging and burning forest biomass increase CO₂ emissions – even if taking into account hypothetical fossil fuel substitution and potential forest regrowth. But emissions reductions need to happen now. Even if trees do grow back, they cannot do so fast enough to tackle the present climate emergency.

As part of the European Green Deal, the RED is being revised, providing the last opportunity for a long time to ensure it supports, rather than undermines, the EU’s climate and biodiversity ambitions.

In our joint position paper, we argue – together with more than 30 NGOs from across Europe – that the EU must stop counting forest biomass as renewable energy and that it must stop treating biomass as a “zero carbon” fuel.