Greenpeace EU: forests

DR Congo logging

edavitt — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:25:00 +0100

The Democratic Republic of Congo's logging sector is in a state of “organised chaos” according to a new report from Greenpeace Africa, threatening to cut off trading with the European Union (EU), the world’s largest timber market. A new regulation banning illegal timber came into effect in the EU on 3 March.

Cut It Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC details how the so-called “battle against illegal logging” launched by the DRC government is failing and reveals the devastating impact that the lack of governance, law enforcement and transparency is having on part of the world’s second largest rainforest.

“Logging companies, including multinationals, are routinely flouting Congolese law, with complete impunity,” said Irène Wabiwa, forests campaigner with Greenpeace Africa. “Many are involved in large-scale timber laundering and as a result, the government is denied tax revenues. Illegal logging is impacting directly on millions of Congolese citizens who depend on forests for their livelihoods.“

Compiled through research and field trips to Bandundu province, the report shows how companies are getting around a moratorium on new industrial logging permits in the country through the illegal use of artisanal permits, which are officially only to be used for small scale logging. Upon visiting Kinkole port near Kinshasa, Greenpeace Africa witnessed log ends being removed and painted with new markings to hide illegal activities and to enable export.

The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits illegally harvested timber (and timber products) from being traded on the European market. Timber traders are required to act with due diligence to minimise the risk of illegal timber from entering their supply chains.

The state of the sector in the DRC and the lack of independent systems there to verify legality mean it is extremely difficult under current circumstances, if not impossible, for traders based in the EU and dealing in timber from the DRC to comply with the legislation.

Companies in Europe need to ensure they fulfill all requirements in the new law to avoid being liable and prosecuted. If they continue with 'business as usual' they will be found out.

“This law ends a long period of impunity in the timber industry. Any timber operators caught selling illegal timber on the EU market will now risk being prosecuted and facing sanctions. There is no other option for the industry but to comply,” said Danielle Van Oijen, forests campaigner with Greenpeace International.

“With strict enforcement from EU governments, this new law can promote a change of behaviour in the global timber industry, including in the DRC and to help stop forest destruction.”

A total transformation of the logging sector in the DRC is needed. To achieve this, Greenpeace is calling on the government to reinforce the existing moratorium and cancel all existing illegal permits, prosecute infractions, publish all logging contracts, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and enable communities to manage their forests for their own benefit.

To read Cut it Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC:
http://www.greenpeace.org/africa/Global/africa/publications/forests/CutItOut.pdf
To view and download news video: http://tinyurl.com/d266rdo

For press enquiries contact:
Irene Wabiwa, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, phone: +243 997 853 171, irene.wabiwa@greenpeace.org
Danielle Van Oijen, Forests Campaigner, Greenpeace Netherlands. Mobile: + 31 6 15 00 74 04,Danielle.van.oijen@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International pressdesk hotline: +31 (0)20 718 24 70

New report presents alternatives to harmful biofuels to decarbonise EU transport

edavitt — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

Brussels – Europe can effectively replace oil with renewable energy in transport without resorting to harmful biofuels, according to a new report by Dutch research institute CE Delft [1], commissioned by environmental groups. The report, Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union, explores scenarios that recommend a major EU policy shift, prioritising energy efficiency and speeding up the adoption of renewable electricity and sustainable biofuels such as those produced from waste and residues.

Under current EU obligations, 10 percent of the European transport sector should be powered by renewable sources by 2020, while fuel suppliers are also required to reduce the carbon intensity of transport fuels by 6 percent. EU governments plan to meet these targets through extensive use of biofuels made from agricultural crops, ignoring their wide environmental and social impact including the displacement of food production to new land and the resulting carbon emissions. According to a Commission study [2], most biofuels currently marketed in Europe offer no or limited carbon emission savings compared to conventional fuels when emissions from this indirect land use change (ILUC) are taken into account.

The CE Delft report, commissioned by Greenpeace, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau and Transport and Environment, shows what a real shift in policy would look like, instead of the wholly unsatisfactory compromise offered by the Commission in October. The Commission’s proposal [3], if adopted, would mean that at least half of the 10 percent fuel transport target would still be met using destructive biofuels in 2020 and their overall consumption would be allowed to grow.

Greenpeace EU forest policy director Sebastien Risso said: “This report shows just how wrongheaded current EU policy is and how transport can become cleaner without using harmful biofuels. The easiest and most secure way to minimise the climate impacts of road and rail transport is to reduce energy use and accelerate the electrification of our transport system.”

The environmental groups urge the European Parliament and EU governments to focus on the solutions offered in the report’s alternative scenario to put EU green transport fuels policy back on track. It would lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions in 2020, while supporting the development of innovative industries that are a great source of jobs. Crucially, member states could meet their obligations under the existing policy framework with no or a substantially lower share of biofuels made from crops grown on land.

T&E fuels programme manager Nusa Urbancic said: “This scenario won’t be achieved overnight and starts with changes to the Commission’s current proposal. The proper accounting of the full carbon footprint of biofuels, including emissions from ILUC, is the first step towards more sustainable alternative fuels. We therefore call on the European Parliament and Council to include ILUC factors in the EU biofuel policy”.

The Commission proposal will be discussed by EU ministers at the energy and environment Councils in February and March and by the European Parliament in the coming months.

Notes to editors:

[1] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/CE-Delft-Report/. Link to press briefing http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/CE-Delft-Briefing/.

[2] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0343:FIN:EN:PDF.

[3] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/doc/biofuels/com_2012_0595_en.pdf

Contacts:

Sebastien Risso – Greenpeace EU Forests Policy Director: +32 (0)2 274 1901, +32 (0)412 127009 (mobile), sebastien.risso@greenpeace.org

Nusa Urbancic – Transport & Environment Fuels Programme Manager: +32 (0)2 893 0846, +32 (0)488 574418 (mobile), nusa.urbancic@transportenvironment.org

Trees Robijns – BirdLife Europe Agriculture and Bioenergy Policy Officer: +32 (0)478 88 73 02, trees.robijns@birdlife.org

Faustine Defossez – European Environmental Bureau Agriculture and Bioenergy Policy Officer: + 32 (0) 4 87 244 270 (mobile), faustine.defossez@eeb.org

Bettina Kampman - CE Delft Senior Researcher, Transport & Climate Policy: +31 (0)15-2150171, kampman@ce.nl

Report: Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union

edavitt — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

European countries are ramping up biofuel use in an effort to meet their obligations under EU objectives to decarbonise energy in the transport sector. But green transport targets for 2020 in the renewable energy directive (RED) and fuel quality directive (FQD) have largely served to incentivise damaging technologies, in particular unsustainable “land-based biofuels” [1].CE Delft Report

The RED requires EU countries to replace 10 percent of the energy used for road and rail transport from renewables, while the FQD requires fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuel by 6 percent by 2020.

Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, the European Environmental Bureau and BirdLife Europe have commissioned environmental research institute CE Delft to examine genuinely sustainable solutions for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport energy sector. The report examines a range of scenarios to meet the RED and FQD targets without or with significantly less land-based biofuels than currently in use, including conservative estimates of the potential of sustainable biofuels.

The report shows how EU transport energy policy could reduce its reliance on damaging biofuels. This alternative vision for the transport sector in 2020 would cut CO2 by 205 million tonnes, compared to just over 60 million tonnes under a recent proposal [2] from the European Commission to adjust existing policy. It would allow EU countries to meet their targets while avoiding the displacement of food production to new land, increased carbon emissions and continued habitat destruction caused by land-based biofuels.

A pathway to greener transport includes:

Energy savings in the transport sector of 15 percent by 2020, through measures such as improved vehicle efficiency and a shift of transport from road to rail. Reducing energy demand will also lower the amount of renewable energy required to fulfil the renewable transport target.

The immediate accounting of indirect land use change emissions from biofuels under the EU’s renewable energy directive and fuel quality directive.

A robust cap limiting the use of land-based biofuels to current levels and a pathway towards near zero usage by 2020.

An increase in the use of renewable electricity in road and rail transport to over 1 percent (152 petajoules) of overall demand by 2020.
- The consumption of about 3 percent of non-land-based, sustainable biofuels from waste and residues in 2020 (350 petajoules), consisting mainly of biomethane from agricultural waste and biodiesel from waste fats.
- In the production of oil-based transport fuels, a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas flaring and venting.

[1] Land-based biofuels are produced from crops or fruits that are grown on agricultural or silvicultural land, as opposed to biofuels produced from waste and residues.

[2] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/doc/biofuels/com_2012_0595_en.pdf

Briefing: Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union

edavitt — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

Report on sustainable alternatives for land-based biofuels in the European Union: Briefing materialsCE Delft biofuels report briefing

Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, the European Environmental Bureau and BirdLife Europe have commissioned environmental research institute CE Delft to examine genuinely sustainable solutions for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport energy sector. The report [1] examines a range of scenarios to meet the RED and FQD targets without or with significantly less land-based biofuels than currently in use, including conservative estimates of the potential of sustainable biofuels.

See the briefing below for further details

[1] CE Delft, December 2012. Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union: Assessment of options and development of a policy strategy. Authors: Bettina Kampman, Anouk van Grinsven and Harry Croezen. Report commissioned by Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, BirdLife Europe and European Environmental Bureau. Available at http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/CE-Delft-Report/, press release available at http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2013/CE-Delft-PR/ .

CE Delft additional memo

edavitt — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

.DE Delft Report additional memo

A brief assessment of the proposed methodological changes for the RED and FQD of the Commission's October 2012 biofuels proposal

Irish government unveils ‘trio’ EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:45:00 +0100

Brussels – Today the Irish government laid out plans for its presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is due to begin on 1 January 2013. Statements today by Irish Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore highlighted the need to focus on ‘jobs and growth’, but Greenpeace is concerned that the plans as outlined today still lack direction and fail to address the drain on the economy from expensive imports of natural resources. They also fail to recognise the opportunity for greater prosperity from the greening of the European economy across all sectors, warned Greenpeace.

The six-month presidency will allow Ireland to direct much of the policy focus of the Union for the first half of next year, within an 18-month joint 'trio' programme with the subsequent presidencies of Lithuania and Greece.

Greenpeace welcomes that the Irish presidency, as part of the trio programme, recognises that "the challenges posed by the current economic and financial situation cannot be addressed effectively in the long term without a continuing emphasis on green growth and resource efficiency" [1].

However, in a letter to Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny last week, Greenpeace joined nine other leading environmental NGOs in expressing concern about the lack of focus on how greening the economy can shape Europe's recovery and highlighting some of the areas where the Irish government needs to focus special attention [2]. Europe's energy policy is central to its economic future – the EU currently spends €1 billion a day on fossil fuel imports from places like the Middle East and Russia, despite the fact that the OECD and the EU's own 2020 strategy specifically underline the need for greater energy efficiency and independence if the EU is to stabilise its economic position. The recent EU Energy Revolution report from Greenpeace highlights the potential for 1.5 million jobs in a new, modern European energy system based on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable, independent energy [3].

Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "What Ireland promotes as its themes and priorities for the presidency is important. There needs to be focus on a more sustainable direction for Europe's economy. We hope that as detailed plans are worked out by the Irish presidency, emphasis will go into ways to pursue lasting economic benefits and sustainable employment from clean and efficient economic systems that produce sustainable jobs. There is a risk that without such focus, EU countries would once again subsidise old polluting technologies that will do nothing to solve the underlying problems in the European economy. The Irish presidency needs to focus on things that work and benefit everyone, not just the banks: paying less for fuel, saving energy and creating jobs with better insulation, and cutting food and resource waste."

Notes to editors:
[1] http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st17/st17426.en12.pdf
[2] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2011%20pubs/2012%20Nov-Dec/201212%20letter%20to%20Irish%20Taoiseach%20Enda%20Kenny.pdf
[3] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2012/ER-PR/

Contacts:
Dónall Geoghegan - Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This press comment is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

Green NGO letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Irish EU presidency

mbreddy — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:57:00 +0100

Letter on behalf of the Green 10.201212 letter to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The Green 10 is the group of leading environmental NGOs active at EU level, with a combined membership of over 20 million citizens.

Commission ignores own research and labels biofuels from palm oil 'sustainable'

mbreddy — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:36:00 +0100

Brussels – The European Commission last Friday approved a certification scheme which would brand biofuels produced from palm oil as ‘sustainable’ [1], despite evidence that their production contributes to deforestation, peatland degradation, disputes over land rights, and climate change.

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe argue that legitimising the use of palm oil biofuels by approving the scheme by the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is inconsistent with the Commission's own analysis published in October 2012. This found biodiesel from palm oil to have a worse carbon footprint than conventional diesel, mainly due to its indirect land use change (ILUC) impact [2]. Palm oil biodiesel has the highest carbon footprint of the most common biofuels.

Greenpeace forest campaigner Sini Harkki said: "The Commission's decision is disgraceful and smacks of hypocrisy. One day palm oil biodiesel is dirtier than normal diesel and the next day, after a little poking by the industry, the Commission swallows its own words."

Robbie Blake, biofuels campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said: "Palm oil is driving deforestation, wildlife loss, community conflicts, and accelerating climate change. Instead of greenwashing palm oil, the EU should outright ban its use as a biofuel."

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe call on the Commission to suspend all the authorisations granted to certification schemes for biofuels identified as highly ILUC-intensive, until the indirect greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels are properly accounted for in law. In October, the Commission proposed to set a new 5% cap on the amount of food-based biofuels that can be counted towards the 10% EU renewable energy transport target by 2020. The proposal also requires EU countries and fuel suppliers to submit reports on the real greenhouse gas emissions from their biofuels (including ILUC), but not to account for these emissions when determining their path to meet EU green transport targets.

Note to editors:
[1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:326:0053:0054:EN:PDF

[2] Several studies, including some commissioned by the EU, have found that the extra demand for food crops such as palm oil for the production of biofuels has a significant climate impact. The search for new land to produce food often leads to land grabbing, deforestation or the draining of peatlands, which releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. When this indirect land use change effect is factored in, palm oil biodiesel causes more carbon emissions than conventional diesel. See page 26, table 4, in the Commission staff working document assessing the ILUC impact of European biofuels policies (October 2012): http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/doc/biofuels/swd_2012_0343_ia_en.pdf.

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Contacts:

Robbie Blake – Friends of the Earth Europe biofuels campaigner: +32 491 29 00 96, robbie.blake@foeeurope.org

Sini Harkki – Greenpeace forest campaigner: +358 50 582 1107, sini.harkki@greenpeace.org

energy [r]evolution

jhunter — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 +0200

The 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution report, carried out for Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council by the German National Centre for Aerospace, Energy and Transport Research, demonstrates how Europe would gain nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs by 2020 if it prioritises a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency over nuclear power and fossil fuels. Other benefits include long-term savings for consumers and improved climate stability.E[R] 2012 lr

The expert consensus is that a fundamental shift in the way we consume and generate energy must begin immediately and be well underway within the next ten years in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The scale of the challenge requires a complete transformation of the way we produce, consume and distribute energy, while maintaining economic growth.

The five key principles behind this Energy [R]evolution will be to:

• Implement renewable solutions, especially through decentralised energy systems and grid expansions
• Respect the natural limits of the environment
• Phase out dirty, unsustainable energy sources
• Create greater equity in the use of resources
• Decouple economic growth from the consumption of fossil fuels

Decentralised energy systems, where power and heat are produced close to the point of final use, reduce grid loads and energy losses in distribution. Investments in 'climate infrastructure' such as smart interactive grids and transmission grids to transport large quantities of offshore wind and concentrated solar power are essential. Building up clusters of renewable micro grids, especially for people living in remote areas, will be a central tool in providing sustainable electricity to the almost two billion people around the world who currently do not have access to electricity.

The Reference scenario is based on the Current Policies scenarios published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in World Energy Outlook 2011 (WEO 2011). It only takes existing international energy and environmental policies into account.

As the IEA's projections only extend to 2035, they have been extended by extrapolating their key macroeconomic and energy indicators forward to 2050. This provides a baseline for comparison with the Energy [R]evolution scenario.

2030 renewables target key to unlocking European Energy [R]evolution

jhunter — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 +0200

Brussels – Europe could enjoy the broad benefits of an energy system powered from renewable sources by 2050, but must set a firm 2030 renewable energy target to steer the transition, according to a new report published today.

The 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution report, carried out for Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) by the German National Centre for Aerospace, Energy and Transport Research (DLR), demonstrates how Europe would gain nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs by 2020 if it prioritises a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency over nuclear power and fossil fuels. Other benefits include long-term savings for consumers, curbing energy demands and improved climate stability. The EU is already considering the post-2020 climate and energy policy landscape.

Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: “Renewable energy is the fastest growing energy source in Europe, largely thanks to an existing EU target. But we are quickly approaching a crucial crossroads, with more jobs, energy security and climate protection in one direction, and a growing dependency on expensive fossil fuels imports in the other. What we need now is a firm commitment at EU level to maintain the continent’s renewables revolution.”

Today, renewables provide 12.5 percent of Europe’s energy needs and are projected to meet the EU 20 percent target by 2020. The Energy [R]evolution foresees the renewables share increasing to over 40 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050.

Greenpeace International senior energy expert Sven Teske said: “Every €1 rise in the price of oil costs Europeans over €400 million a month. By refocusing its energy system, the EU can cut that this dependency almost in half by 2030. Renewable energy, combined with efficiency standards for cars and buildings, will revitalise our societies and save billions of euros.”

Greenpeace and EREC are calling for a binding 2030 renewable energy target of 45 percent. They also want to see a swift phase-out of subsidies for nuclear energy and fossil fuels.

EREC secretary general Josche Muth said: “Nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs will be gained by 2020 if we chose to prioritise a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency. Clear administrative procedures, stable and reliable support and easier access to capital are vital to achieving this ambition. But to create investor confidence and stimulate further innovation, policy clarity post-2020 is needed. This will not only help the EU tackle the economic crisis, but bring us on a long-term sustainability path to 2050.”

The Energy [R]evolution report estimates that the costs of building a power system based on renewables and efficiency (power being more accurate than energy for estimating costs) would be compensated two-fold through the €3 trillion of fuel cost savings that would be accrued between 2011 and 2050.

For the 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution click here.

Contacts:
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org
EREC Communication and Policy Officer Eleanor Smith: +32 (0)2 400 1081, smith@erec.org

You can also find this press release on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Commission fails to shut the door on harmful biofuels

jhunter — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:48:00 +0200

Brussels – The European Commission will today finally recognise the destructive side-effects of biofuels made from palm oil, rapeseed and soybeans and other food crops. But its long-awaited proposal to clean up Europe’s biofuels policy will do little to solve the problem, said Greenpeace.

Greenpeace EU transport policy director Franziska Achterberg said: “The Commission finally wants to rein in harmful biofuels, but will do nothing to reverse the biomess. If this proposal becomes law, biofuels more damaging to the climate than crude oil will still be used to meet green transport targets.”

The Commission proposal does not require governments or fuel suppliers to account for indirect emissions from biofuels [1] under fuel quality and renewable energy laws. Biofuels with higher overall emissions than fossil fuels will continue to be used to fulfil EU targets under both laws.

Instead, the Commission proposes a five percent cap on the amount of biofuels made from food crops that can count towards its ten percent renewable transport target, regardless of their indirect emissions. But the cap is too high, said Greenpeace, since it is not based on an assessment of the amount of biofuels that can be produced sustainably.

The proposal introduces incentives for second generation biofuels produced from waste and residues, but fails to require environmental safeguards. Encouraging production of biofuels from forestry residues that are already in demand, potentially leading to increased logging with serious environmental repercussions, warned Greenpeace. Biofuels from waste can meet part of Europe’s transport needs, but other options should take priority, including energy savings and more renewable power in road and rail transport.

Greenpeace calls on the European Parliament and Council to amend the proposal to properly account for the full climate change impact of biofuels.

Ends

Note to editors:

[1] Food crops are being used to meet the EU’s growing demand for biofuels, with the result that food for animals and humans must be grown elsewhere. The search for new farmland often causes the destruction of vital ecosystems, such as forests, savannahs and peat lands across the planet. This releases millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change and undermining the climate benefits Europe’s biofuels policy is meant to deliver. Numerous scientific and public authorities agree that ILUC is real and should be accounted for when calculating the potential emissions savings from biofuels.

Contacts:

Greenpeace EU transport policy director Franziska Achterberg +32 4 98362403 franziska.achterberg@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

You can also find this press release on: www.greenpeace.eu

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green groups: no medals in sight for Barroso II

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

Brussels – Halfway through its term in office, the European Commission is falling behind in the race to create sustainable long-term prosperity in Europe, warn Europe’s leading green groups in a critical assessment of the Commission’s environmental performance since 2010.

The report released today finds that the Commission has so far acted to protect the environment even less than the first Barroso Commission [1], according to environmental organisations.

Unless it changes track, the Barroso II Commission could have one of the worst ever environmental records, said the Green 10 coalition [2].

The report, inspired by a topical Olympic theme, assesses progress in nine EU policy fields with impacts on the environment and reviews the track record of 13 European Commissioners and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Each policy field is given a mark out of ten based on two main factors: environmental ambition and the extent of environmental issues that the Commission has addressed.

Faced with the breakdown of an economic system operating beyond planetary limits, the Commission has so far lacked the courage to propose legislation for a new, sustainable economy and has continued to favour short-term fixes over long-term solutions for people’s health and the planet, said green groups. Despite encouraging statements on the need for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy, the Commission has so far failed to harness the potential for environmental policies to create jobs, improve health and reduce energy and resource use. Industry lobbyists have continued to pull the strings on many political files, leading to woefully inadequate policies, according to the Green 10.

While the Commission has in some measure recognised the environmental, health and economic impact of enduring problems linked to resource depletion, pollution and ecological destruction, swifter action is required. Its flagship reform proposals on EU fisheries and agriculture policies would not put an end to industrial overfishing, nor halt animal and plant extinctions, nor soil, water and food pollution from pesticides. The Commission therefore only scores a 3.5/10 on agriculture and a 4.5/10 on fisheries.

The Commission has acknowledged the economic and environmental rewards offered by clean energy and transport and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. But its mixed record on energy policy has not delivered clear measures to bring Europe closer to a modern energy system built around renewables and efficiency, and free from expensive energy imports and polluting greenhouse gases. Failure to live up to its own rhetoric has contributed to another low score of 4.5/10 for energy policy.

The Green 10 assessment includes a series of policy-specific recommendations for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Commission’s term that will help Europe successfully tackle the economic, climate and resource challenges facing the continent.

To download the Green 10 report, click here.

Versions of this press release are available in French and German.

Notes to editors:
[1] To view the Green 10 assessment of the outgoing Barroso Commission in 2009, click here.
[2] The Green 10 is an alliance of ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membership of over 20 million people. www.green10.org

For media enquiries: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

Off Their Game

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

This report is a mid-term assessment of the environmental performance of the Barroso II European Commission, covering the period from early 2010 to mid-2012. It is issued by the Green10, a platform of environmental organisations active at EU level, with a membership of over 20 million EU citizens.

Individual sections in this report summarise the Commission’s activities in different policy areas and set out our recommendations for the remainder of its term in office. We have also briefly assessed the performance of many European Commissionersand the Commission President.

For a print version, click here.

For a screen version, click here.

Further delay as Commissioners fail to agree biofuels clean-up plan

jhunter — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:55:00 +0200

Brussels - European Commissioners today failed to agree how to close a major loophole in EU biofuels policy. The lack of progress adds to years of delay while the climate impact of harmful biofuels continues to grow, Greenpeace said.

Sustainability rules for biofuels currently ignore greenhouse gas emissions from the indirect destruction of forests, peatlands and other habitats linked to fuel production from crops - the indirect land use change (ILUC) effect [1].

In a debate this morning, the EU’s 27 commissioners were unable to agree a common approach on how to account for ILUC.

Greenpeace EU forests policy director Sebastien Risso said: “Despite an unstoppable tide of scientific evidence proving just how polluting some biofuels are, the Commission still can’t bring itself to grab the bull by the horns and take decisive action. The Commission must resolve its internal disagreements and put forward a robust plan on biofuels before the summer recess.”

A Commission ILUC impact assessment found that habitats more than half the size of Belgium are set to be destroyed to meet EU demand for biofuels by 2020, increasing Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than the total annual emissions of Italy or France [2].

Ends

Notes
[1] Food crops are now being used to meet the EU’s growing demand for biofuels, with the result that new farmlands are needed, destroying vital ecosystems and carbon stores such as forests, savannahs and peat lands globally. This releases millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change and undermining the climate benefits Europe’s biofuels policy are meant to deliver.
[2] Assessing the Land Use Change Consequences of European Biofuel Policies http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/october/tradoc_148289.pdf

Contacts
Greenpeace EU forests policy adviser Sebastien Risso: +32 (0) 496 127 009 Sebastien.Risso@Greenpeace.orgGreenpeace media officer Jack Hunter: +32 (0)476 988 584 Jack.Hunter@Greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Briefing on the European Citizens' Initiative

jhunter — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0200

A concise two page briefing on the European Citizens' Initiative.

201203 BR ECI

The Lisbon Treaty, which came into force in December 2009, enshrines the right for a million Europeans to petition the European Commission and require it to draft legislation on the basis of their demands (or justify its refusal to do so). This right is known as the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI).

In December 2010, Greenpeace and Avaaz submitted a one million signature ECI in accordance with the rules established by EU treaties (http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2010/first-citizens-initiative/). The ECI was in response to the first authorisation by the Commission in March 2010 for the cultivation of a genetically modified (GM) crop in Europe in 12 years. This authorisation was in direct breach of a request by all 27 member states for a review of the approval system for GM crops. It also raised serious health and environmental concerns. The ECI therefore called for a moratorium on all new authorisations and a review of the GM approval process.

On 1 April 2012, new operating rules on the work-ings of the ECI will come into force. This briefing clarifies Greenpeace’s position on the ECI and the status of the initiative on GM crops.

Danish EU presidency - Greenpeace priorities for the environment

mbreddy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:39:00 +0100

Denmark will take the helm of the Council of the European Union from January 2012 at a crucial time for the future of Europe and its citizens. As government cuts start to bite and the debt and Euro-zone crises unfold, Europeans continue to be concerned about the environment. A recent survey found that 95% of Europeans think that environmental protection is important (Eurobarometer, June 2011). Over three quarters also believe that environmental measures would help boost economic growth.120101 Danish EU presidency priorities

The new Danish government will lead the political debate on fundamental issues that will help determine whether Europe banks on short-term financial gain at a great environmental cost or whether it favours long-lasting economic and environmental recovery supported by innovation, resource efficiency and clean development.

This paper briefly highlights some of the main environmental issues that will feature prominently on the EU agenda during the Danish EU presidency. These include: the future make-up of the EU energy sector; Europe’s impact on the world’s oceans; the freedom of Europeans to choose how their food is produced; and the elimination of toxic pollution in Europe’s waterways.

First biofuels, now biomass: is the EU driving another BioMess?

mbreddy — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0100

A two page briefing on Europe's role in driving Canadian deforestation for biomass. The briefing accompanies Greenpeace Canada report 'Fuelling a BioMess, why burning trees for energy will harm people, the climate and forests'BioMess EU briefing

Wood pellet exports from Canadian forests to Europe have grown by 700 percent in less than eight years. The production of forest biomass in Canada increasingly comes from felling natural forests. This threatens the health of forests across the country and will increase carbon emissions for decades, even centuries. The European Union (EU) must stop driving forest degradation in Canada and other parts of the world by establishing a mandatory sustainability scheme for the production and use of forest biomass in electricity, heating and cooling.

This briefing is the European accompaniment to the Greenpeace Canada report Fuelling a BioMess, why burning trees for energy will harm people, the climate and forests.

Tests find rainforest-destroying biofuels common at filling stations - EU rules to blame

jhunter — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:01:00 +0200

19 July 2011, Brussels – Drivers are unknowingly helping to destroy rainforests because of the growing use of harmful biofuels in diesel, tests at filling stations reveal.

A snapshot study of diesel sold at filling stations in nine European countries reveals that it is regularly blended with the most damaging biofuels, those produced from rapeseed, soy and palm oil. Official EU analysis [1] shows that the production of these three biofuels leads to deforestation and other indirect land use change that makes them more climate-damaging than fossil fuels [2].

Filling stations in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Austria had the highest amount of biodiesel overall, ranging from five to seven percent. French fuel had the most soy, Italian the most palm oil and Swedish the most rapeseed [3].

EU policies will drive up the use of biofuels from agricultural products by a predicted 170 percent by 2020, according to an analysis of government energy plans. Biodiesel will make up 71 percent of that figure, with Germany, France, the UK, Spain and Italy consuming the most.

Last December, the European Commission said it would review its options for dealing with the indirect land use change impacts of biofuels no later than July 2011, based on a precautionary approach and using the best available science.

Greenpeace EU forests policy adviser Sebastien Risso said: “Most holidaymakers won’t know they are running their vehicles on fuel that is meant to be green, but is in fact a dirty shade of brown. EU lawmakers know there is a problem, have committed to look at it and should now legislate against the most climate-damaging biofuels in favour of those that do significantly better. The longer they wait, the more the genie will be out of the bottle and the harder it will be to force it back in.”

Greenpeace is calling for the following EU policy changes:

Legislation should be introduced requiring energy suppliers to reflect the climate impact of indirect land-use change for different biofuel crops.

Biofuels that offer little or no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels should not count towards renewable energy targets or qualify for incentives.

Ends

Images of rainforest destruction for soy farming are available here, here, and here,

Contacts
Greenpeace EU forests policy adviser Sebastien Risso 0032 (0)496 127009 sebastien.risso@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU press officer Jack Hunter 0032 (0)476 988584 jack.hunter@greenpeace.org

[1] A leaked impact assessment from the European Commission shows that once indirect land use change is taken into account, most biofuels made from agricultural products deliver little or no climate benefit, with some, including palm oil, rapeseed and soy, worse than fossil fuels. See European Voice article ‘Commission study questions carbon dioxide benefits from EU biofuel’ and Reuters article ‘Climate impact threatens biodiesel future in EU’.

[2] Indirect land use change (ILUC) is the conversion of land-types that store carbon, such as forests, grasslands and peatlands, into farmland to grow crops for food, feed and fibres that have been displaced by fuel crops.

[3] ‘Biodiesel tested: How Europe’s biofuels policy threatens the climate’ is the first study to test fuels at petrol stations and gives the most up-to-date analysis of fuel composition. It is based on 92 biodiesel samples, collected in May and June 2011, analysed by German fuel analysis centre ASG Analytik.

Biodiesel tested: How Europe’s biofuels policy threatens the climate

Greenpeace — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:01:00 +0200

Greenpeace tested diesel at filling stations across Europe in 2011, discovering worrying amounts of rainforest-destroying biofuels.Biodiesel tested, how Europe’s biofuels policy threatens the climate

Countries around Europe are steadily increasing the share of biofuels in transport fuel to meet EU renewable energy targets. At the same time, there is ongoing debate around the sustainability of certain biofuels, due to impacts on land-use change caused by their expansion.

A European Commission study to be published shortly is expected to reveal that greenhouse gas emissions associated with biofuels made from oilseed crops such as rapeseed, soy and palm oil, in particular, may exceed emissions from fossil fuels. This is because of emissions resulting from ‘indirect land use change’: the conversion of land-types that store carbon, such as forests, grasslands and peatlands, into farmland to grow crops for food, feed and fibres that have been displaced by fuel crops.

Meanwhile, plans drawn up by EU member states indicate that they intend to meet the renewable energy target in the transport sector for 2020 largely through the increased use of biodiesel – diesel fuel derived from vegetable or animal sources.

Already, much of the diesel sold at filling stations around Europe incorporates biodiesel. In May and June, Greenpeace bought diesel samples at filling stations in nine EU countries, and sent them for laboratory testing to identify the source of the biodiesel element. Most of the biodiesel, according to the analysis, was derived from the very crops associated with high greenhouse gas emissions due to indirect land use change: rapeseed, soy and palm oil.

It appears that, despite its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the EU is actually promoting the adoption of the most climate-damaging biofuels, undermining its own policies.

As the European Commission prepares to review the evidence related the sustainability of biofuels, Greenpeace argues that biofuels that offer little or no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels should not count towards renewable energy targets or qualify for incentives. We urge the EU to introduce legislation requiring energy suppliers to reflect the climate impact of indirect land-use change in the calculation of a biofuel’s carbon footprint. Only correct accounting for greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels, including those associated with indirect land use change, would allow the necessary distinction between biofuels that reduce emissions and those that do not.

Hidden Consequences - The costs of industrial water pollution on people, planet and profit

jhunter — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:53:00 +0200

Industrial pollution is a severe threat to water resources around the world, particularly in the Global South where the view prevails that pollution is the price to pay for progress. The only way to address these hidden dangers in our water is through a preventative approach: Taking action to phase out the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals, rather than attempting to control the damage with end-of-pipe treatment methods.Hidden Consequences

Greenpeace's call for 'zero discharge' is built upon three decades of exposing and addressing the problems of hazardous chemicals. Case studies from the Global North show the extent to which persistant and bioaccumulative chemicals have contaminated entire regions. If we fail to learn from the mistakes of the past, then we are doomed to repeat them. This is especially the case in those regions of the world where much chemical and manufacturing production has now relocated - namely, Asia and the wider Global South.

Greenpeace is calling on governments to adopt a political commitment to 'zero discharge' of all hazardous chemicals within one generation, based on the precautionary principle and a preventative approach to chemicals management.

ACEI letter

ACEI — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:13:00 +0200

ACEI letterACEI letter

21 January 2010

BP position letter

BP — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:12:00 +0200

BP position letterBP position letter 30%

20 April 2011

BE Letter to President Schauvliege

BE — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:09:00 +0200

BE Letter to President SchauvliegeBE letter to pres

11 Oct 2010

BE position paper

BE — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:07:00 +0200

EUROPEAN BUSINESS RECOMMENDATIONS ON EU POLICIES FOR CLIMATE AND ENERGYBE policy paper

7 October 2010

letter from Energy Intensive Industries

Energy Intensive Industries — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:39:00 +0200

letter from Energy Intensive IndustriesGroup letter - unrealistic

3 March 2011