The climate and biodiversity crises are intertwined. Protecting and restoring forests is key to addressing both.
But EU climate and forest policies have a fatal flaw. Instead of actively protecting forests, EU policies encourage more logging, including for biomass fuel that is burned in power plants and counted as “zero carbon” renewable energy. In reality, burning wood emits more carbon pollution than burning coal, and re-growing trees to offset these emissions takes decades to centuries – time we do not have in the race to combat climate change.
The Campaign for Europe’s Forests. This is a crucial time for EU policymaking on forests and climate, an opportunity to reverse forest degradation and declines in biodiversity. Learn what’s at stake.
The Forest Defenders Alliance is an initiative to amplify the voices of NGOs in Europe and in countries with forests that are threatened by EU policies.
We need to end the EU’s dependence on burning forest wood for renewable energy, which is bad for climate, bad for human health and bad for biodiversity.
The NGO photo library documents forest destruction and air pollution driven by the biomass industry. All images available for download.
The wood pellet industry claims they only use mill and forestry residues for wood pellets. Here’s the film they don’t want you to see.
Sign the petition that’s been endorsed by more than 120 NGOs, telling EU policymakers to stop counting burning forest wood as “renewable .”
Learn about the harm of burning forests for energy, then join the movement by signing the biomass petition here
Beyond ending burning forests for fuel, the EU needs a new vision for forests that protects remnant old-growth and restores more forests to their natural potential.
We’re advancing new forest defender principles we believe should guide EU policy.
Forest Defender Principles: for a forest policy in the EU that reverses collapsing biodiversity, restores ecosystems, and ensures that forests help mitigate climate change.
Current consultations: Your voice is important. EU policymakers say they want to preserve nature and mitigate climate change. Help ensure they follow through by weighing in.
Love forests and want to get more involved? Find out how to weigh in on EU policy on our current consultations page.
News and observations from NGO allies
- NGOs call on Energy Council to end support for burning forests as renewable energy
The current reform to forest biomass policy supported by the Council will lead to ecosystem and climate collapse - 115 US and Canadian NGOs to EU: For how long will you keep destroying our forests for fuel?
For how long will European leaders ignore the science of climate change and treat burning woody biomass as “zero-carbon,” renewable energy? For how long will you countenance the continued destruction of forests for fuel, rather than invest in true climate solutions? - Debunking the obviously misleading claims of the “Joint Letter on Bioenergy” signed by 10 member states
Who would sign such a letter when it’s claims can so easily be disproven? - The so-called GHG criteria for biomass are an industry-written fraud
The wood pellet industry is already meeting the so-called “rigorous” standard that the RED would impose. The standards are meaningless. - An open letter on forest biomass from scientists and NGOs to policymakers
The future of Europe’s forests should not be decided by a Presidency that has been pushing for years to increase their exploitation – this is an explicit conflict of interest.
Resources for research and advocacy
Resources on biomass
How does bioenergy threaten forests and the climate? Why is “sustainable” forestry a false proxy for carbon neutrality? See the references here.
Resources on forests and biodiversity
Why are forests important for mitigating climate change? How are climate mitigation and biodiversity linked? Get the answers here.
NGOs
Organizations work to protect forests all over the world. Find forest defenders in your country and learn how you can support them.
Forest defenders at work
