Edition: International | Greek
MENU

Home » EU Actually

EU rules destroying Estonia’s forests

EU rules that encourage the use of wood pellets to meet renewable energy targets are driving the destruction and degradation of forests in Estonia, research commissioned by Greenpeace has found

By: N. Peter Kramer - Posted: Wednesday, July 7, 2021

"EU sustainability criteria are not enough to stop destruction of nature in Estonia, the EU’s second- largest exporter of wood pellets."
"EU sustainability criteria are not enough to stop destruction of nature in Estonia, the EU’s second- largest exporter of wood pellets."

N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column

EU rules that encourage the use of wood pellets to meet renewable energy targets are driving the destruction and degradation of forests in Estonia, research commissioned by Greenpeace has found. EU sustainability criteria are not enough to stop destruction of nature in Estonia, the EU’s second- largest exporter of wood pellets.

Taking the logging and degradation of forests into account, the use of wood for heat and power production has an often similar climate impact to the fossil fuels they are intended to replace. EU rules currently allow for the burning of wood for energy to be counted towards renewable energy targets, regardless of whether the wood is from trees cut just for burning or is waste wood from other processes.

The European Commission is currently working on an update of the EU’s controversial biomass sustainability criteria.But leaked drafts show that the Commission is only considering cosmetic changes. The Commission will publish its ‘Fit For 55’ package of updates to EU climate and energy legislation on 14 July.

A Greenpeace campaigner let know, “the EU must stop counting wood straight from the forest towards renewables targets. We can’t fight climate change by chopping down trees to burn them – so renewables rules that encourage this are not fit for purpose. Even the best sustainability criteria in the EU hasn’t kept forest destruction out of energy production.”.

This blunder of the Commission makes me think of those days the EU decreed its no smoking policy and at the same time continued subsidising tobacco growing!

READ ALSO

EU Actually

One year after the Draghi report: China’s trade surplus increased by almost 20 percent

N. Peter KramerBy: N. Peter Kramer

At the presentation of his 400-page report in September 2024, Mario Draghi said, the EU will face a ‘slow death’ if it doesn’t quickly close the gap with economic superpowers such as the United States and China

Europe

The EU must define its red lines in a tough new security doctrine

The EU must define its red lines in a tough new security doctrine

Realpolitik, greatly enhanced by television, has in recent weeks sent an embarrassing message around the world – the European Union isn’t the global player it claims to be

Business

The Next Chapter: Governance and Growth for Global South families

The Next Chapter: Governance and Growth for Global South families

In much of the Global South, family-owned businesses are not a side story

MARKET INDICES

Powered by Investing.com
All contents © Copyright EMG Strategic Consulting Ltd. 1997-2025. All Rights Reserved   |   Home Page  |   Disclaimer  |   Website by Theratron