Publications & Insight

Blogs

The European Green Deal promises an EU of bigger and better forests: The Taxonomy Regulation makes it impossible

The success of the European Green Deal depends on the financial support it receives. 

More and more finance is already flowing from banks and investors, eager to turn their portfolios green. But what are the criteria for deciding...

21/04/2021

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

Forest Watch

Forest Watch 264 - April 2021

Discarding a decade of effort developing FLEGT licenses, or ignoring key land rights in EC proposals to fight deforestation won't keep forests standing

08/04/2021

Could the palm oil arrangement between Indonesia and Switzerland offer lessons for EU and Indonesia free trade agreement negotiations?

The agreement innovates by linking tariff reductions to sustainability – but fails to integrate governance reform.

08/04/2021

EU Watchdog points to Commission “maladministration” in Mercosur sustainability debacle

What is the point of an impact study carried out after the fact?

08/04/2021

EU Law on deforestation: Key land rights risk being ignored in DG Environment’s proposal

Only one of two important upcoming legislative initiatives is expected to integrate human rights. Both must.

08/04/2021

FLEGT ‘Fitness Check’: Abandoning FLEGT licenses would harm forest governance and the legal timber trade

Civil society organisations urge the EU to stay the course with visionary FLEGT programme

08/04/2021

Reports

Beyond Commitments

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

31/03/2021