Media Release - Environmental Paper Network

Europe’s continued reliance on biomass burning undoes EU climate credentials

The European Parliament’s decision to retain subsidies for burning forest biomass for energy tarnishes the EU’s reputation of leadership on renewable energy as it ignores recommendations of the Parliament’s own environment committee and entrench reliance on this highly emissive and environmentally destructive substitute for fossil fuels. This decision may be entrenched in forthcoming trialogue deliberations […]

Flushing the Climate: Which U.S. Stores are Still Selling the World’s Most Destructive Toilet Paper?

9 years after their highly publicized Forest Conservation Policy was announced, monitoring by Indonesian and international NGOs finds Asia Pulp and Paper is failing to keep its promises, damaging the climate and harming local communities in Indonesia. EPN-North America and partners contacted 27 major U.S. grocery stores and retailers who currently or have recently sold […]

Stolen land and fading forests in Chile

A new report from the Environmental Paper Network reveals another case of “Conflict Plantations,” this time in Chile. Since May 7th the military police have been sent again to garrison Araucania, Southern-central Chile, where the pulp & paper industry is embroiled in a longstanding conflict with the Mapuche indigenous people. This is not a good […]

Remembering Lafcadio Cortesi

by Sergio Baffoni I first met Lafcadio by hearsay. In Papua New Guinea, after having left years before, he was a legend among the clans’ people. Yet, when I finally met him in person, it was a great discovery. And it was immediately an intense friendship, because it was very easy to be friends with […]

Korean Paper Company Plunders the Last Rainforests While Continuing to Claim Operations are Eco-Friendly

Year long Investigation Reveals Deforestation Throughout Pulp & Paper Supply Chain Merauke, Papua, Indonesia (15 March, 2022) — A new investigation released today by Environmental Paper Network (EPN), Mighty Earth, Pusaka, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC), Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) and Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) details the devastation of pristine forests […]

EPN International statement on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin’s military invasion of Ukraine has brought a terrible toll of deaths and injuries across borders. These are horrible days for the people of Ukraine, for the civilians in Russia and Belarus, for all those caught in this conflict and for Europe, which faces its biggest crisis in many years. We have all seen […]

Proposed conversion of former coal plant to biomass is a high risk for investors, new study shows

Portugal to decide on future of Pego power station by late February. The Pego power station in Portugal represents a high risk for investors and financiers, according to a “Dodgy Deal” briefing [1] published today by five environmental groups [2], who urged funders to steer clear of financing the proposed conversion from burning coal to […]

First test of ‘net zero’ bank commitments as pulp & paper giants seek finance for expansion that could torpedo Indonesia’s climate goals

Civil society groups warn that material risks to financial institutions haven’t been disclosed New analyses released today by a coalition of civil society organizations reveal significant material risk to banks and investors exposed to two of the world’s largest pulp and paper companies –– Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL). […]

Global NGOs warn COP26 that burning forest wood for energy sabotages climate action

Declaration reacts to high-profile biomass industry greenwashing drive Glasgow, 10 November 2021 – Environmental organizations are pledging their opposition to burning forest biomass for renewable energy in a declaration issued today at the Glasgow climate conference (COP26). The statement (below) was issued as the biomass and wood pellet industries host a series of events at […]