Publications & Insight

Blogs

Białowieża forest struggle is symptomatic of a greater ill

As Polish authorities disregard national protests and international pressure to stop logging, activists face increasing hostility in order to protect Białowieża, Europe’s last primeval forest. Activists estimate that 600-900 trees...

19/10/2017

Reports

European Development Finance Institutions and land grabs: The need for further independent scrutiny

This study highlights the role of European Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in possible land grabs and questionable forestry projects in Africa. It documents nine such cases involving eight of the European DFIs. It raises...

18/10/2017

Blogs

Blog: Aviation industrys carbon offsetting plans keep flying into trouble

Keeping global warming below 1.5°C - which the Paris Agreement strives to – means fundamental changes for industries from energy to transport. Yet the aviation sector - one of the planet’s biggest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2)...

18/10/2017

Press Releases

Forests and climate will suffer from Council’s decision

EU Environment ministers today bowed to pressure from a small nucleus of nations led by Finland, and opted for damaging new carbon accounting rules on land and forests (known as the LULUCF Regulation). This press release explains...

13/10/2017

Blogs

Sacrificing South America’s forests on the altar of EU market access

The first trade talks between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of nations - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – began almost 20 years ago. Since then they have stuttered through 28 rounds of negotiations, but this...

12/10/2017

Events

Lungs of the Earth – forest policies for health and climate

“How can forests help the EU meet its climate, energy and clean air objectives?” This was a key question discussed on 28 September 2017 at an event looking at current and future forest-related policies. It was hosted by MEPs Paul...

04/10/2017

Blogs

Guest Blog: Are European taxpayers funding land grabs and forest destruction?

The central aim of European Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) is to foster growth and reduce poverty. Yet in Africa, evidence is mounting that they have funded ‘forestry’ projects which have caused deforestation, possible...

03/10/2017

Briefing Notes

Bioenergy in the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive

The European Parliament is currently discussing the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) which will determine how biomass can be used for energy towards meeting the EU’s renewable energy target and minimum...

28/09/2017

Loophole after loophole, is LULUCF Regulation limping toward a dead-end?

The European Parliament’s plenary vote, 13 September 2017, on how EU nations account for emissions from their land and forest sectors (LULUCF Regulation) was disheartening. The European People’s Party (EPP) proposed last-minute...

25/09/2017

Białowieża: Polish defiance continues in the ECJ hearing

On 11 September 2017, the European Court of Justice ECJ heard arguments relating to Poland’s failure to comply with the ECJ’s injunction (27 July) on logging in Białowieża Forest – a serious and unprecedented act of defiance, for...

25/09/2017