European parliamentarians decided this week to phase out some wood energy subsidies. It recognizes that over a decade of government incentives have contributed to deforestation without curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
But Wednesday’s vote in the European Parliament leaves key details pending and no changes for at least a year. As Russia cuts gas supplies to Europe, governments are under tremendous pressure to ease soaring energy prices this winter.
European governments began subsidizing wood energy more than a decade ago as a way to encourage power plants and homeowners to move away from oil and gas. A booming market for wood pellets was born. Wood is now Europe’s largest source of renewable energy, far ahead of wind and solar.
The vote comes after last year when government statistics revealed that burning wood in the European Union emits more carbon dioxide than if the energy came from fossil fuels. It shows how dramatically political opinions about wood have changed.
Tiemo Werken, a German member of the European Parliament who supported the abolishment of subsidies, said, “It is a wall that clearing forests for energy is neither sustainable nor does it contribute to energy self-sufficiency. It is written
More than half of the wood harvested in Europe is burned for heat or electricity. Because trees are ultimately renewable and trees are renewable, this energy will help countries reach their renewable energy goals.
The New York Times showed last week that loggers are clearing clearings of protected forests and grinding them into sawdust to make pellets for burning.These pellets are sold as environmentally friendly. However, in some ways, burning them releases more carbon than burning coal.
For years, governments have provided billions of dollars in tax breaks and financial incentives to both wood pellet buyers and producers.
Funds that encourage the felling of whole trees could be illegal in 2024. Sawdust waste, trees felled for fire protection, and woody energy from naturally fallen trees will continue to be subsidized.
Governments can also factor wood power generation into their clean energy goals. This is a regulation welcomed by the industry association Bioenergy Europe, which includes pellet manufacturers. But Maya Leppisto, the group’s spokeswoman, wrote in her email that weakening domestic power sources in the midst of an energy crisis would be counterproductive.
“Restricting the use of renewable resources like bioenergy goes against the European Union’s climate ambitions and affects the entire supply chain,” she said.
Mary S. Booth, an ecologist and director of the Partnership for Policy Consistency, said the legislation passed by Congress was too vague and difficult to enforce. She wanted clear deadlines and goals.
Details remain unclear and need to be resolved through discussions between governments, a process that is expected to begin later this year or early next year. Lobbying on this issue will therefore continue.
Nils Torvalds, Member of the European Parliament for Finland, said: “I don’t think there are any easy solutions to these problems, especially given the huge energy shortages in Europe.” “We’re in big trouble,” he said, revealing unintended consequences for Kim.