Member States continue to rely on deforestation and overexploitation of forests
Brussels (OTS) – This morning, after 14 hours of negotiations, an agreement was reached between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States for the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). The EU Parliament’s previous position aimed to keep small regional biomass heating plants running while at the same time protecting Europe’s forests from overexploitation. The limit on the use of biomass provided for in Parliament’s proposal was revoked by the Council.
Thomas Waitz, Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the European Green Party, warns against the failure of small regional biomass plants and greenwashing: “Without a cap on the use of primary wood in biomass plants, it will continue to be overexploitation and clear-cutting on a large scale. This not only destroys our forests and exacerbates the climate crisis, but also poses a threat to the continued operation of regional biomass plants. Without this limitation on the use of biomass, coal-fired plants can now be converted to biomass plants. The growing demand for wood must therefore be increasingly covered by imports from the US and Canada. Our unbridled hunger for energy wood is therefore driving the destruction of forests around the world. Excessive demand will drive up the price from wood for energy, which will simply cause smaller biomass plants to go bankrupt. Small regional biomass plants are no longer competitive, while mega-plants are subsidized with EU funds.”
The sustainability criteria were also softened.
“In addition to biomass, hydrogen produced with nuclear energy for the industrial sector is also accounted for in renewable energy targets. This is a greenwash for the struggling French nuclear industry,” concluded Waitz.
The outcome of the trialogue has yet to be confirmed by the EU Parliament.
Questions and contact:
Inge Chen
Spokesperson Thomas Waitz
+32484912134
[email protected]