Stop Cutting Down Forests to Use in Wood-Burning Power Plants in Europe
- by: Dogwood Alliance
- recipient: UK Dept. of Energy and Climate Change and EU DGs of Energy and Env.
Biomass energy has emerged as a new threat to Southern forests. Despite the fact that deforestation is the third largest cause of carbon pollution just behind cars and power plants, European policy makers are promoting the burning of Southern forests for electricity to meet their "clean energy" targets.
Our standing forests gather and store carbon, which makes them a key solution for carbon pollution. Though bioenergy from wood might create a temporary boom for the forest products industry in the Southern U.S., it will devastate the 20 years of work that increased protection for millions of acres of Southern forests.
Forests provide our communities with clean air to breathe, water to drink and natural protection from flooding and hurricanes. They are home to countless species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Cutting them down as a solution to the climate crisis is bad policy and makes no sense. We can no longer invest in forest destruction; we need to focus on forest conservation.
Tell Ed Davey, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and the EU Directorates-General of Energy and Environment to stop incentivizing the use of trees for fuel in their renewable energy policies.
Our standing forests gather and store carbon, which makes them a key solution for carbon pollution. Though bioenergy from wood might create a temporary boom for the forest products industry in the Southern U.S., it will devastate the 20 years of work that increased protection for millions of acres of Southern forests.
Forests provide our communities with clean air to breathe, water to drink and natural protection from flooding and hurricanes. They are home to countless species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Cutting them down as a solution to the climate crisis is bad policy and makes no sense. We can no longer invest in forest destruction; we need to focus on forest conservation.
Tell Ed Davey, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and the EU Directorates-General of Energy and Environment to stop incentivizing the use of trees for fuel in their renewable energy policies.
Dear [Decision Maker],
I am writing to express my concerns about the devastation current European Union renewable energy policies are causing to the forests and communities of the Southern United States. I ask you to take action now to save our Southern forests.
As you are well aware, the increased demand for wood as a fuel source in the EU and particularly in the United Kingdom is driving the expansion of wood pellet manufacturing and export in the Southern US. The production of these wood pellets from our forests negatively affects our health, environment, climate and quality of life. This is an SOS message - Save Our Southern Forests!
The large-scale burning of wood pellets is not a solution to climate change or a feasible alternative to coal. Mounting scientific research shows that burning wood pellets manufactured from trees will increase near-term carbon emissions and accelerate climate change. A recent report released by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change confirms that all scenarios in which whole trees or coarse woody residuals are used for wood pellets produce a result that is not carbon beneficial.
Additionally, our living forests provide many benefits. Standing forests are our best defense against climate change through gathering and storing carbon. Forests provide our communities with clean air to breathe, water to drink and natural protection from flooding and hurricanes. They are home to countless species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Cutting them down as a solution to the climate crisis is bad policy and makes no sense. We can no longer invest in forest destruction; we need to focus on forest conservation.
Alternatives do exist, including true renewables like solar, wind and geothermal energy that are significantly less destructive sources of energy. Rather than investing in short-term and short-sighted solutions, we should be increasing these types of energy investments.
[Your comment will go here]
Hear our SOS message. Take action now. Consider these alternatives and stop incentivizing using trees for fuel in your renewable energy policies. The future of our forests, climate and health depends on it.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionI am writing to express my concerns about the devastation current European Union renewable energy policies are causing to the forests and communities of the Southern United States. I ask you to take action now to save our Southern forests.
As you are well aware, the increased demand for wood as a fuel source in the EU and particularly in the United Kingdom is driving the expansion of wood pellet manufacturing and export in the Southern US. The production of these wood pellets from our forests negatively affects our health, environment, climate and quality of life. This is an SOS message - Save Our Southern Forests!
The large-scale burning of wood pellets is not a solution to climate change or a feasible alternative to coal. Mounting scientific research shows that burning wood pellets manufactured from trees will increase near-term carbon emissions and accelerate climate change. A recent report released by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change confirms that all scenarios in which whole trees or coarse woody residuals are used for wood pellets produce a result that is not carbon beneficial.
Additionally, our living forests provide many benefits. Standing forests are our best defense against climate change through gathering and storing carbon. Forests provide our communities with clean air to breathe, water to drink and natural protection from flooding and hurricanes. They are home to countless species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Cutting them down as a solution to the climate crisis is bad policy and makes no sense. We can no longer invest in forest destruction; we need to focus on forest conservation.
Alternatives do exist, including true renewables like solar, wind and geothermal energy that are significantly less destructive sources of energy. Rather than investing in short-term and short-sighted solutions, we should be increasing these types of energy investments.
[Your comment will go here]
Hear our SOS message. Take action now. Consider these alternatives and stop incentivizing using trees for fuel in your renewable energy policies. The future of our forests, climate and health depends on it.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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