An Analysis of Biomass, Bioenergy and BECCS in Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies
Biomass energy is increasingly common in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Long Term Strategies (LTS).
These documents – submitted to the UNFCCC by national governments – are important because they set out the high-level and detailed pathways countries plan to take to transition to low-carbon economies and to reduce emissions. Some NDCs and Long Term Strategies refer to bioenergy, biomass, or Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). They do not always specify whether this will be burning wood or other feedstocks (for example energy crops). This assessment has focused on references to using bioenergy for power, heating and cooling and using biomass with carbon capture technology.
Key Points
• 49% of countries’ climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions submitted to the United Nations) mention biomass, bioenergy or bioenergy combined with carbon capture technology (BECCS).
• 83% of Long Term Strategies (more detailed climate plans submitted by a smaller number of countries) mention biomass, bioenergy or BECCS.
• Bioenergy – especially burning wood from forests – harms nature and is a false climate solution.
• Some countries’ climate plans raise concerns about the use of bioenergy, especially its contribution towards deforestation and its impacts on health and nature. Some of them talk about reducing reliance on bioenergy.
• Some countries, which do not use industrial-scale bioenergy, have the opportunity to leapfrog the technology.
Read the briefing and the full report below:
• Briefing
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