Forest Defenders

@SwedishPM If Swedish forestry is so "sustainable," then why are you still logging old growth forests?

A Letter on forests to Ursula von der Leyen Sweden consists of almost 70% forest land. We Swedes have cared for the forest and lived in it, by it, and from it for generations. It has warmed our homes in the winter, provided timber for our houses, and sustained entire communities. Every child learns woodworking in school. The forest is part of our culture and a central element of the right of public access, where every Swede enjoys great freedom and takes great responsibility. In large parts of Europe, the landscape is flat. When we speak of our vast forests in the EU, some believe we mean small parks – they have rarely seen anything that can compare to a Nordic coniferous forest. While other European countries spent centuries cutting down large parts of their forests, we have continued to use ours – but also to replant. We create jobs, build climate-smart wooden houses instead of concrete ones, and develop biofuels from forest residues that replace gasoline in the tank. Today, forestry provides a livelihood for around 140,000 Swedes. Another northern country that sells a lot of timber is Russia. After the invasion of Ukraine, many countries stopped buying Russian wood and turned instead to Sweden and Finland. That prevents money from flowing into the Russian war chest and creates jobs here in the Nordics. The EU’s current framework for forest use, known as LULUCF, is a major problem and, if not revised, would lead to unreasonable and unjustified restrictions on Swedish forestry. We have managed our forests for hundreds of years, and we know how to do it well. To in practice severely restrict large parts of Nordic forestry is the wrong path to take, for many reasons. When Swedish trees become wooden houses or biofuels, it reduces Europe’s climate footprint. That is why today, together with Finland’s Prime Minister @PetteriOrpo, I have sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula @vonderleyen. We want the EU to truly make use of the flexibilities available within the LULUCF legislation – for the sake of the climate, and for Europe’s security. Allowing us to care for and use the vast forests of the Nordic region is not only about safeguarding a Northern European tradition, it is also a prerequisite for the green transition. And it is far better for Europe’s security that timber is exported from stable democracies in the Nordics than from Russia.

Bioeconomy or biocide? Without limits to biomass use, the EU risks destroying the very biosphere it claims to protect. forestdefenders.org/wp-content/upl…

Bioeconomy or biocide? Without limits to biomass use, the EU risks destroying the very biosphere it claims to protect. Read More Here. forestdefenders.org/wp-content/upl… #EUbioeconomy #EUforests #CarbonSink

BECCS is a #ClimateCon. The IPCC recognizes burying tree carbon doesn’t “remove” CO2 from the atmosphere. #BECCS #Drax pfpi.net/2025/07/once-y…

CA’s largest proposed wood-pellet plant is on hold after thousands of public comments and broad science-based opposition. The replacement wood-chipping project will be just as problematic. #climate @NRDC nrdc.org/press-releases…

Burning forests for energy + calling it a “carbon removal” = climate fraud. 40+ NGOs urge the EU to rewrite its CRCF methodologies before they undermine the EU’s forest carbon sink even further. READ: fern.org/publications-i… #StopBECCS #EUClimatePolicy #CRFC

🌲🔥 Reject Continued Subsidies to Drax 🔥🌲 Burning forest wood is not 'low carbon', is a massive source of #airpollution in the UK, and contributes to the destruction of old growth forests. forestlitigation.org/the-subsidies-… @TeamPFPI

The Dutch House has declared biomass & BECCS policies controversial—putting them on hold. No more false climate solutions that harm forests & biodiversity. The caretaker govt is out. Voters decide what’s next. Climate justice, not biomass greenwash. linkedin.com/posts/dr-fenna…

@vonderleyen and @JessikaRoswall: WE💚FORESTS. Show your commitment to the EUDR and help protect what we love! The EU Deforestation Regulation will keep forest destruction off our shelves! #Together4Forests

🔴Revealed: The £264 billion Price Tag of the UK’s Carbon Capture Strategy Critics argue the technology is a “dangerous distraction” to the real measures required to tackle catastrophic man-made climate change bylinetimes.com/2025/06/11/rev…

#ThinkAgainRachel #Chancellor #SpendingReview Revealed: The £264 billion Price Tag of the UK’s Carbon Capture Strategy - @BylineTimes “a colossal waste of money that actively worsens the climate crisis even with carbon capture”. Read more 👉 scrapcc.org/BYLINE

Springfield, MA: biomass is back on the table. But burning wood emits more CO₂ than coal per unit of energy. This isn’t clean. It’s a loophole. PFPI says NO to false solutions. #StopBiomass #ClimateScience canarymedia.com/articles/polic…

H.R.1 is not a budget—it’s an environmental wrecking ball. Ends clean energy tax credits Mandates timber extraction Fast-tracks oil & gas projects Slashes pollution controls Blocks judicial review PFPI breaks it down: pfpi.net/2025/06/one-bi… #StopHR1 #ClimateCrisis #PFPI

Logging forests for the #Bioeconomy will degrade them just like logging them for energy does. forestdefenders.eu/the-chemical-i…

Logging more forests to mitigate climate change doesn’t make sense, but this could happen under the EU #BioeconomyStrategy. Scientists and NGOs have until June 23 to weigh in w/ comments to the European Commission. forestdefenders.eu/the-eu-bioecon…

Ho hum, another EUSTAFOR attempt to drag everyone back into the past. What do they have against using satellite monitoring of forests? (we can guess, actually...) We need a strong #ForestMonitoringLaw forestdefenders.eu/eustafor-wants…

@DaleVince The National Audit Office did investigate the government's support for biomass... but avoided any conclusion on Value for Money, which is their main remit! Plus they were absolutely credulous on the zero-carbon con. forestlitigation.org/the-uks-nation…

What are the consequences for allegedly 'misleading' the government while making a record £1Bn in profit...? More subsidies it seems... The Office for Value for Money needs to investigate Drax... cityam.com/drax-misled-go…

THREAD: A few thoughts on today’s biomass (Drax) announcement by the gov. Overall, clearly @Ed_Miliband & @energygovuk are not overly enthusiastic about wood pellets – on grounds of value for money & sustainability. So, a MUCH more limited role for Drax from 2027-2031. 1/10

@Draxgroup logs forests for fuel, but even worse, the UK gov't gives them a pass by misleading Parliament. Watch the Minister for Energy and Net Zero gaslight the House of Lords about #biomass, while everyone chuckles along. youtube.com/watch?v=qURj9b… #Drax #ClimateCriminals

@DraxGroup Weirdly, this reminds me of this ol' bit of hilarity:

"Dying" (literally) over @DraxGroup ad for their new company, "Elimini" - the "lifeboat" company for when Drax goes belly-up. Strangely appropriate imagery, spaceships leaving the planet. Just what Drax CEO wants to do!