A better use of wood and public funds

More than 50 civil society organisations are calling on the European Commission to fundamentally rethink incentives for burning woody biomass. In a letter addressed to President Ursula von der Leyen, the signatories highlight the climate, environmental and economic impacts of current EU policies and urge the Commission to remove woody biomass from the renewable energy sources recognised under the Renewable Energy Directive.

According to the organisations, EU Member States have spent more than €180 billion on bioenergy subsidies and tax breaks since 2015, increasing pressure on forests, emissions and competition for a limited resource. The letter calls for public funds and wood supplies to be redirected towards genuinely decarbonised energy solutions and higher-value uses within the bioeconomy.

Download the full document to explore the evidence, concerns and policy recommendations addressed to EU decision-makers, here.