Position Statement on Forest Biomass Energy
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We share a vision of a world in which thriving natural forests play a significant role in tackling climate change and contribute to a clean, healthy, just and sustainable future for all life on earth. Burning forest wood for large-scale energy production cannot be part of that future for all of the reasons outlined below. Instead we must protect and restore natural forests, thereby reducing emissions and removing atmospheric carbon dioxide while supporting biodiversity, resilience and well-being.
Large-scale burning of forest biomass for energy:
Harms the climate
It is not low carbon – Burning forest biomass for energy is not carbon neutral. It immediately emits large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In contrast it takes decades to centuries for forests to regrow and sequester the carbon, which is far too long to effectively contribute to the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target. Direct and indirect emissions from logging and the bioenergy supply chain also negatively affect its overall carbon balance.
It is encouraged by flawed accounting – Current carbon accounting rules incentivise forest bioenergy by considering biomass combustion as a zero-emission technology, expressed as zero emissions in the energy sector. The assumption is that all emissions are instead to be accounted for when the biomass is logged, placing the burden on the forest producer rather than the biomass consumer. Yet emissions accounting of forests in the land sector is fatally flawed and generally understates emissions. The true carbon cost of biomass burning rarely appears accurately on any country’s balance sheet.
Harms forests
It threatens biodiversity and climate resilience – Using forest biomass for energy can entrench, intensify and expand logging. This degrades forest ecosystems, depletes biodiversity and soils and harms forests’ ability to deliver ecosystem services like clean drinking water, flood protection, and clean air. Conversion of forests and other ecosystems to industrial monoculture tree plantations for biomass is especially harmful. These increased impacts come at a time when we recognise that rights-based protection and ecological restoration improve the health and well-being of forests and make them more resilient to climate change and other environmental disturbances.
It undermines the climate mitigation potential of forests – To meet the Paris Agreement goal of pursuing efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, scientists now agree we will need to draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. A safe and proven way to do this is to protect and restore natural forests. Logging for biomass does the opposite.
Harms people
It undermines community rights and interests – Demand for biomass can exacerbate conflicts over land and forest resources, including land grabbing. This threatens rights, interests, lives, livelihoods and cultural values of indigenous and tribal peoples and local communities as well as established businesses relying on forest resources. The wide-ranging negative effects can also impact food security for the wider populace and for the long term.
It harms human health and well-being – Forests play an important role in safeguarding communities from the worst impacts of climate change. Those living at the front-lines of forest destruction are often most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and also face oppressive extractive industries. In addition, biomass manufacturing and combustion facilities are often located in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, where they pollute the air, increasing incidents of respiratory and other diseases. Local quality of life is affected.
Harms the clean energy transition
It provides a life-line for burning coal for energy production – Co-firing forest biomass with coal extends the life of coal power stations at a time when we need to move beyond emissive, industrial scale burning.
It pulls investment away from other renewables – Biomass undermines less emissive renewable energy solutions because it competes for the same government incentives. Unlike investment in low emission technologies, such as wind and solar, biomass energy entails ongoing feedstock costs and relies on continuous subsidies.
We, the undersigned organisations, believe that we must move beyond burning forest biomass to effectively address climate change. We call on governments, financiers, companies and civil society to avoid expansion of the forest biomass based energy industry and move away from its use. Subsidies for forest biomass energy must be eliminated. Protecting and restoring the world’s forests is a climate change solution, burning them is not.
To join these organisations in endorsing the Statement and working together, please confirm that you have read the statement and an endorsement form will appear.
Complete list of signatories, in alphabetical order:
Abibiman Foundation | Ghana |
All India Forum of Forest Movements | India |
Alliance for a Clean Environment, Western Australia | Australia |
Alliance for the Wild Rockies | USA |
AMAF – Benin | Benin |
Amis de la Terre – Togo | Togo |
ARA | Germany |
Arise for Social Justice – Springfield | USA |
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development | |
Australian Forest and Climate Alliance | Australia |
Australian Rainforest Conservation Society | Australia |
Ballina Environment Society | Australia |
BankTrack | Europe |
Battle Creek Alliance | USA |
Bellingen Environment Centre, NSW | Australia |
Biodiversity Conservation Center | Russia |
Biofuelwatch | International |
Birdlife | Europe |
Blue Dalian | China |
Bob Brown Foundation | Australia |
Busselton Dunsborough Environment Centre, WA | Australia |
California Chaparral Institute | USA |
Canberra Forest Network, ACT | Australia |
Canopee | France |
Canopy | Canada |
Censat Agua – Amigos de la Tierra Colombia | Colombia |
Center for Biological Diversity | USA |
Clarence Environment Centre, NSW | Australia |
Client Earth | UK |
Coffs Harbour Greens | Australia |
Colectivo VientoSur | Chile |
Concerned citizens of Franklin County | USA |
Conservation Congress | USA |
Conservatree | USA |
Czech Coalition for Rivers | Czech Republic |
Defiance Canyon Raptor Rescue | USA |
denkhausbremen | Germany |
Doctors and Scientists against Wood Smoke Pollution | International |
Dogwood Alliance | USA |
Don’t Waste Arizona | USA |
Earth Ethics | USA |
Ecology Action Centre | Canada |
Econexus | UK |
Endangered Species Coalition | USA |
Environment East Gippsland | Australia |
Estonian Forest Aid | Estonia |
Extinction Rebellion Hawaii | USA |
Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) | Nepal |
FERN | Europe |
Forest Media, NSW | Australia |
Forest observatory | Morocco |
Forests of the World | Denmark |
Forum Ecologie & Papier | Germany |
Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung | Germany |
Fresnans against Fracking | USA |
Friends of Siberian Forests | Russia |
Friends of the Earth Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
Friends of the Earth Finland | Finland |
Friends of the Earth U.S.A. | USA |
Friends of the Forest, mid South coast NSW | Australia |
Friends of the Wild Swan | USA |
Fund for Wild Nature | USA |
Fundacja “Rozwój TAK – Odkrywki NIE | Poland |
Geasphere | South-Africa |
Gelderse Natuur en Milieufederatie | Netherlands |
GEOS Institute | USA |
Gesellschaft fur okologische Forschung e V. | Germany |
Global Forest Coalition | International |
Great Southern Forest, NSW | Australia |
Green Longjiang | China |
GreenLatinos | USA |
Greenpeace International | International |
Healthy Forest Coalition, Nova Scotia | Canada |
Henoi | Paraguay |
Humane Society International Australia | Australia |
Indigenous Environmental Network | USA |
Instytut Spraw Obewatelskich INSPRO | Poland |
Jamesville Positive Action Committee | USA |
John Muir Project | USA |
Kalang Land and Environment Action Network, NSW | Australia |
Kalang River Forest Alliance, NSW | Australia |
Last Tree Laws | USA |
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation | USA |
Les Amis de la Terre – Togo | Togo |
Los Padres ForestWatch | USA |
Margaret River Regional Environment Centre, WA | Australia |
Massachusetts Forest Rescue | USA |
Mighty Earth | USA |
Milieudefensie | Netherlands |
My Environment, Vic | Australia |
Nambucca Valley Conservation Association, NSW | Australia |
National Toxics Network, Australia | Australia |
Natural Resources Defense Council | USA |
Nimbin Environment Centre, NSW | Australia |
NOAH (FoE Denmark) | Denmark |
North Coast Environment Council, NSW | Australia |
North Columbia Environmental Society | USA |
North East Forest Alliance, NSW | Australia |
Partnership for Policy Integrity | USA |
Pivot Point | USA |
Protect the Forest | Sweden |
Public Lands Media | USA |
Rachel Carson Council | USA |
Rainforest Action Network | USA |
Rainforest Information Centre | Australia |
Rainforest Relief | USA |
Renourish | USA |
Restore: The North Woods | USA |
Rettet de Regenwald | Germany |
RICCE | Liberia |
RootsKeeper | USA |
Salva la Selva | Spain |
Santa Fe Forest Coalition | USA |
Save Brook Rd. Forest in WEndell State Forest | USA |
Sequoia ForestKeeper | USA |
Sierra Club | USA |
Sierra Club BC | Canada |
Snow Alliance | China |
Society for Responsible Design | Australia |
Soil Mates Cooperative | Canada |
South East Forest Alliance | Australia |
South East Forest Alliance | Australia |
South East Forest Rescue | Australia |
South East Region Conservation Alliance | Australia |
South-West Forests Defence Foundation, WA | Australia |
Southern Environmental Law Center | USA |
STAND.earth | USA |
Stichting Luchtfonds | Nederland |
Sustainable Agriculture and Communities Alliance | Australia |
Swan View Coalition, Montana | USA |
Terra! | Italy |
The Corner House | UK |
The Development Institute | Ghana |
The John Muir Project | USA |
TUK Indonesia | Indonesia |
Western Australian Forest Alliance | Australia |
Wild Nature Institute | USA |
WildWest Institute | USA |
Women’s Environment & Development Organization | USA – International |
Womens Earth and Climate Action Network | USA & International |
Woodland League | Ireland |
Woods Hole Research Center | USA |
Wuhu Ecology Centre | China |
Yellowstone to Uintas Connection | USA |
ZERO | Portugal |