Biomass - Environmental Paper Network

Biomass Energy Expansion at the Expense of Indonesia’s Gorontalo Forests

On the International Day of Action on Big Biomass, EPN’s Biomass Action Network Asia-Pacific working group published a report on Indonesia’s Gorontalo forests and how they are being destroyed for the expansion of the biomass energy industry. This report was the work of Trend Asia, Solutions for Our Climate, Global Environmental Forum, Friends of the […]

RWE burns Malaysian wood pellets linked to rainforest destruction

An investigation by Zembla, broadcast on 10 September 2026, revealed that wood pellets certified as sawmill residues were, in fact, made from whole trees felled in Malaysian rainforests or from plantations that replaced them. These wood pellets were then shipped to the Netherlands and burned by the German energy giant RWE in Dutch power stations […]

Why the EU must stop subsidies for burning trees: A policy mistake that needs to be corrected

More than 40 NGOs have come together to call on the EU to stop incentivising biomass in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). They have produced a shared position paper calling on the EU to stop incentivising biomass in EU renewable energy and climate legislation because it: Makes the climate crisis […]

Dry Streams in an Ocean of Eucalyptus: new report calls for Aperam expansion to be halted

A new investigation into Aperam BioEnergia’s eucalyptus plantations, charcoal and biochar production in Brazil’s Upper Jequitinhonha Valley documents decades of land dispossession, water depletion, Cerrado destruction and conflict, challenging the idea that this industrial model represents a genuine climate solution. The Global Forest Coalition (GFC), together with Biofuelwatch, EPN’s Biomass Action Network and the Hands […]

We are hiring a Communications Specialist for The Forests Are Not Fuel Europe (FANFE) Coalition

Communications Professional for the Forests are not Fuel Europe campaign on the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) – call for applications. Deadline to apply: Sunday 4th October by midnight (CEST) Contract type: Freelancer contract for 12 months Starting date: As soon as possible Salary: €2860 gross/month for 10 […]

Wrap up: BAN reflects on the Climate Negotiations in Bonn, 2026

The Biomass Action Network’s COP Biomass Taskforce recently completed two weeks of intensive advocacy at the UNFCCC SB64 intersessional climate negotiations in June 2026, held in Bonn, Germany. The Taskforce’s primary goal is to increase pressure and drive action to ensure biomass energy is excluded as a method for meeting international climate targets. Their efforts […]

Bioenergy in Countries’ Climate Plans

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 […]

The Hidden Human Rights Costs of Large-Scale Biomass Energy

As the world looks for alternatives to fossil fuels, large-scale biomass energy – burning wood for power and heat – has emerged as a popular solution. But behind its “green” reputation, the rapid expansion of the biomass industry is causing a host of serious human rights concerns that are often overlooked. The supply chain for […]

Press Release – Countries’ reliance on bioenergy to reduce carbon emissions is bad news for forests and climate, new data shows

Pictured above: An area of forest clear cut for biomass energy in Gorontalo, Indonesia ⓒ Forest Watch Indonesia — For immediate release — June 8th, 2026 Full PDF version Half of all national climate plans (NDCs) mention bioenergy in some form. In more detailed Long-Term Strategies, this figure rises to 83 percent, according to […]