At the moment, the burning of trees is still regarded by the European Union as ‘green energy’. But scientists have been warning for years about the consequences of massive logging and increased CO2 emissions from burning forest wood. Tree conservationists and opponents of biomass are pleased with the support of a majority in the environmental committee for stricter rules of the game.
“Tree stumps and trunks should no longer be counted as renewable energy if this proposal stands,” said Vice-Chairman of the Environment Committee Bas Eickhout (GL). “That means an end to subsidies for burning trees.”
JA21 MEP Rob Roos applauds stricter requirements, “But ultimately biomass is never sustainable and efficient. Nuclear energy is. Let’s finally bet on that.”
Possible end to burning whole trees
Climate chief Frans Timmermans recently indicated that, as far as he is concerned, the subsidized burning of entire trees will end. He has fewer problems with the combustion of ‘residual wood’. On Wednesday, the European Commissioner will present a plan to quickly become less dependent on Russian fossil fuels. In that plan, biomass is outlined as one of the alternatives.
The tree protectors fear that the plan will encourage member states to use even more biomass. According to the critics, the stricter rules now proposed will not offer sufficient solace. They warn that there are still too many loopholes in the law to continue firing subsidized. “We fear that this half-step will be celebrated as a victory, when in reality more than half of the biomass burned can still receive subsidies and not be included in the emissions statistics,” said Lina Burnelius of Protect the Forest Sweden.
solid lobby
Particularly in EU Member States with a large forestry economy, a strong lobby is underway to keep the subsidy mill for woody biomass running. This is echoed in the European Parliament by politicians from these countries. Eickhout fears that it will therefore become exciting when the entire parliament will vote on the proposal in September: “This requires the support of right-wing parties: they can ensure that health, nature and the environment no longer go for the axe.”