Wild Europe launches the RECCS Report at COP29

The RECCS Report, Renewable Energy and Climate Change Strategy calling for cessation of commercial scale solid (forest) bioenergy and reallocation of subsidies to costed alternatives for addressing climate change, was launched at COP 29 on 14^th November. See the summary leaflet and a main document.

The Report was produced by Trinomics Consultants, energy advisors to the European Commission and national governments, and commissioned by Wild Europe.

Some 65,000 delegates registered at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, with key issues at stake including agreement on climate funding for developing countries, and the impact of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement by the forthcoming US Trump regime.

Wild Europe also promoted two other key initiatives at the COP: closer links between fossil fuel and solid bioenergy campaign networks, and an International Shareholder Action Plan to promote diversification of climate action, using the reallocated subsidies from solid bioenergy.

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Hungarian Civil Presidency: Ancient forest & wilderness need new skills & strategy for protection

Presentations by Wild Europe personnel in October for the Hungarian Civil Society Presidency programme supported strong EU targets but identified urgent need for capacity building to meet these.

Civil society and the EU Hungarian Presidency

Eyes on Hungary and its people at a critical time for Europe

With the Budapest regime adopting an increasingly non-aligned stance on environmental and governance issues, NGO interests have established a “Civil EU Presidency” to provide a parallel voice for the way ahead during Hungary’s six month tenure.

As expressed on the Civil EU Presidency website, output from a series of events together with participation in other EU related sessions, will be collated into recommendations for environmental strategy – and the role of a fully functioning, inclusive democracy in developing this.

Enterprise element of successful Sumava NP programme to be assessed

Sumava and Bayerischerwald: non intervention at the heart of Europe

Wild Europe’s initiative to identify local community enterprise opportunities in and around Sumava National Park is to be assessed for further development.

The initiative was originally proposed in an outline feasibility study for (non-extractive) enterprise related to wilderness areas in Sumava, which also promoted close links to the adjoining BayerischerWald National Park in Bavaria.

The Czech Environment Ministry gave its support to the initiative in 2018, with a statement from Vice Minister Vladimir Dolejsky:

“I consider elaboration of this study very important not only for the development of the National Park Sumava region, but also in terms of the future course of national parks in the Czech Republic in general”.

Call for cessation of commercial bioenergy at UNFCC conference

Representatives from five continents called to a rapid and drastic reduction in burning of forest biomass – dubbing it a ‘fake’ form of renewable energy – at the UN conference in Bonn on 8^th June.

Wild Europe’s presentation, as part of this call, focused on the need to reallocate all existing official subsidies to alternative far more effective means of addressing climate change.

Clouds gather over European environmental policy – a way ahead

Just as 2023 was declared the hottest year on record, the last few weeks have seen a series of setbacks to essential environmental reforms.

CAP reform measures are being eroded, there are calls for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to be delayed and diluted, massive further funding is recommended for solid (forest) bioenergy that worsens climate change with higher emissions than fossil fuels.

Now the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is also faltering, and the Forest Monitoring Law (FML) is under threat from gross over-simplification.

This article proposes reforms to address the NRL and FML situations in particular.

Nature Restoration Law (NRL) passed – lessons for the future

Nature – and the economy – triumphs over 275 Neros. For now.

At last a prize worth cheering about, as the European parliament votes 329 votes in favour, 275 against, to back the NRL.

The final step will involve Council endorsement towards the end of March, with Environment Ministers meeting on 26^th. Thereafter successful implementation will depend on Member States adopting effective National Restoration Plans.

Behind the celebrations there is much ground to cover.

UK Government warned against adoption of ‘deeply flawed’ BECCS energy policy

In its response to the Government’s consultation on subsidies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage on 29^th February, Wild Europe has strongly advised the cessation of all further support for solid (forest) bioenergy.

Welcome to Kriton Arsenis

We are very pleased to welcome Kriton as a trustee of Wild Europe Foundation.

Twice voted “MEP of the Year” by his colleagues in the European Parliament for achievements in forest and marine conservation during his tenure from 2009 – 2014, he has a significant track record as environmentalist and politician.

He played a key role in development of forest policy, including establishment of the EU Timber Regulation, and led the Parliament in adopting EU legislation on monitoring emissions from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), as well as ending important derogations of EU environmental assessment legislation. Kriton has since been a member of the Greek parliament until 2023.

Rescuing the Nature Restoration Law

NRL squeezed though the European Parliament, but fundamental reforms are needed for it to succeed

It is a stark but surprisingly little-known fact that farming and forestry interests opposing the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) represent less than 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product in the EU.

Yet the costs of inappropriate management in worsening climate change and ecological degradation fall on the remaining 97.5% of the economy.

End Carbon Fuels – a unified approach for climate campaigners

Wood burning Drax – a renewable energy image bathed in natural greenness

Wild Europe is promoting closer coordination between networks campaigning to abolish fossil fuels and those seeking to end commercial scale forest bioenergy.

This was the focus of a webinar co-hosted with Europe Beyond Coal on 19^th October, featuring 29 organisations from both networks, and agreement reached on the mutual benefit of closer links.

There is a paradox whereby much-needed success in phasing out fossil fuels can, if these are replaced by forest biomass burning, worsen climate change.