Bijdrage mili­eu­com­missie over de Nieuwe EU-bosstra­tegie voor 2030

Anja Hazekamp (PvdD): Dear Commissioners, forests play a crucial role in combatting climate change. However, the new Forest Strategy for 2030 considers woody biomass as a source for renewable energy and claims it will help reduce CO₂ emissions.

Yet, it is incredibly clear that cutting trees actually removes carbon sinks and the subsequent burning of wood emits CO₂. Furthermore, this practice causes huge biodiversity losses, because of all the clear-cuts we see all over Europe. This is the opposite of what our planet needs. Moreover, it takes decades for a replanted forest to capture as much CO₂ as the original forest did, which is time we simply do not have.

When will the Commission realise how harmful it is to our planet to continue using forests as a source of energy? Are you willing to change the Renewable Energy Directive accordingly, as the European Parliament already requested in the Biodiversity Strategy.

Thank you.