Publications

Briefing Notes

Unsustainable and Ineffective: Why EU Forest Biomass Standards won't stop destruction

There has been intense criticism of the European Union (EU) Renewable Energy Directive (RED) for leading to adverse impacts on forests in Europe and beyond. To tackle these concerns, the EU developed sustainability criteria that...

19/05/2021

Briefing Notes

Putting the Environment in Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence

Ensuring corporate accountability for environmental impacts

in the upcoming EU directive on sustainable corporate governance

17/05/2021

NGO recommendations on the future EU Regulation to address the forest, ecosystem, and human rights impacts associated with products placed on the EU market

The European Commission has committed to publish, in June 2021, a legislative proposal to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the European Union (EU) market. This briefing...

06/05/2021

NGO Statements

Raising the bar: Strengthening EU biodiversity and climate leadership through FLEGT and Forest Partnerships

This statement summarises the views of civil society organisations (CSOs) from Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and West and Central Africa. These organisations help address the key challenges threatening forests around...

27/04/2021

NGO Statements

To benefit people, biodiversity and the climate, EU development programmes must heed local voices

The EU is the world’s largest aid donor and a major political actor with a strong influence over global policies. The EU recognises civil society as an essential actor in policy making and implementation, specifically in the...

14/04/2021

Reports

Analysis on biomass in National Energy and Climate Plans

The European Union relies heavily on burning forest biomass to achieve its renewable energy targets. This destructive burning has doubled since the early 2000s and has already surpassed projected levels. Half of all harvested wood...

13/04/2021

How bioenergy harms biodiversity: the facts

Intensive forest management is having devastating impacts on wildlife and biodiversity in the EU. This has increased since bioenergy was incentivised as a renewable form of energy under the Renewable Energy Directive. Scientists,...

12/04/2021

Reports

Beyond Commitments

How can NDCs contribute to forest governance and resilient local communities?

31/03/2021

Briefing Notes

Five ways the EU can ensure forests support EU climate and biodiversity goals

To tackle the climate crisis, EU land and forests need to absorb more carbon dioxide, but the opposite is happening. EU forest health and biodiversity is declining, even in EU forests protected by legislation. Half of all the wood...

18/03/2021

NGO Statements

Stop EU-Mercosur Coalition Statement

We, the undersigned organisations, call on political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to stop the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

The EU-Mercosur agreement belongs to an out-dated 20th Century model of trade that has failed the...

15/03/2021