1) The large-scale use of biomass for energy in the EU is resulting in the destruction of forests and increased carbon emissions rather than providing a green solution. 2) Biomass power plants require unsustainable amounts of wood sourced from forests within hundreds of kilometers, threatening local wood industries and ecosystems. 3) Accounting rules for biomass emissions are flawed and do not guarantee the climate benefits being claimed, while biomass harvesting often conflicts with maintaining forest biodiversity and other uses.

1. Clean energy has a dirty secret

2. 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

3. It’s a matter of scale
So where has it all gone
wrong?

4. 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:

5. …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:

6. …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:

7. 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:

8. …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:

9. …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
!

10. 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:

11. 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!
#SOSforests
http://ctt.ec/14cXZ
Click
here to
tweet!

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