About: forests
The EU’s watershed deforestation moment?
This week Ursula von der Leyen signalled the EU’s desire to lead the world in the fight against global deforestation. But if the key drivers of deforestation aren’t addressed, progress will remain limited, writes Julia Christian.
One Planet Summit: no climate fix without biodiversity
A UN-backed summit Monday of political leaders and CEOs pledging to reverse the accelerating destruction of the natural world was long on promises and short on cash.
‘Net zero’ climate targets? Read the fine print
The worldwide effort to prevent Earth from becoming an unlivable hothouse is in the grips of "net zero" fever.
The answer to deforestation lies in space
The use of satellite technology to track and halt real-time cases of deforestation in a country like Malaysia could become a “blueprint” for ending deforestation in the Amazon, writes Daniel Mackisack.
Europe needs laws to stop import of deforestation-linked products, lawmakers say
The European Parliament on Thursday (22 October) called for the European Union to introduce laws to prevent the import of commodities and products linked to deforestation and human rights abuses.
Official: EU taking first steps to bring forestry into carbon market
The first step to bring forestry under the EU’s emissions trading scheme is to ensure that every tonne of carbon dioxide in the forest is counted so that a certification system for carbon removals can be put in place, Artur Runge-Metzger told EURACTIV.
Forests and climate change
With its 2030 climate plan last month, the European Commission has put the spotlight on forests as Europe's main "carbon sink," saying their ability to store carbon dioxide must be preserved in order to reach the bloc's climate goals.
Forestry’s climate impact ‘invisible’ under UN rules, experts say
Forests are the planet’s biggest carbon “sink” – absorbing more CO2 from the atmosphere than they emit – but their contribution to cooling the earth’s climate are currently not fully accounted for under UN rules, experts point out.
Europe revives carbon farming but without access to carbon markets
The concept of soil carbon sequestration, a cornerstone of regenerative farming, is regaining strength as a key measure in both climate mitigation and adaptation.
Commission under fire for including ‘carbon sinks’ into EU climate goals
The European Commission on Thursday (17 September) defended its plan to bring carbon removals from agriculture, land use and forestry into the EU’s updated climate target for 2030, saying this was in line with UNFCCC standards.OpinionPromoted content
Biomass: supporting greater climate ambitions without sacrificing sustainability
As Europe’s largest single source of renewable energy, sustainable biomass is a cornerstone of the EU’s low-carbon energy transition. Seeking to accelerate this transition, the European Commission has proposed a series of ambitious new goals to achieve by the end...
‘Not all biomass is carbon neutral’, industry says
Leading industry figures acknowledge that not all biomass brings benefits to the climate, insisting that only low-value wood and forest residues should make the cut under EU law.
EU’s trade deals can put an end to deforestation
The EU must take an aggressive “stick and carrot” approach to trade deals in order to put an end to deforestation and avert a next pandemic, writes Fazlun Khalid.
The hyping of negative emissions
EU lawmaker Jytte Guteland has proposed ambitious EU climate targets, but a cornerstone for reaching them remains shaky, says Kelsey Perlman.
Illegal logging in Romania overwhelms authorities
Thousands of hectares have once again been cleared in one of Europe's last large primeval forests in Romania in recent months. The country's authorities are overwhelmed. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
EU plans sweeping bioenergy review by end 2020
The European Commission intends to push a “transformative approach” to all forms of bioenergy – including biofuels and woody biomass – as part of a biodiversity strategy due to be unveiled on Wednesday (20 May).
Tackling tropical deforestation: The need for EU leadership
The EU's commitment to introduce mandatory due diligence standards on companies importing products linked to environmental damage and human rights abuses deserves praise, write Darragh Conway and Alison Hoare. It now must be followed through, they argue.
EU aims to ring-fence ‘old-growth forests’ in new biodiversity plan
At least 10% of land – considerably more than the current 3% – will have to be declared “strictly protected areas” under a new EU biodiversity strategy due to be unveiled later this month.
Von der Leyen’s first 100 days: Are Europe’s forests – and the climate – in good hands?
The Green Deal promoted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has the potential to strengthen European, as well as global, forests and make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change, writes Hannah Mowat.
Forestry seen as key to Russian climate change efforts
The country’s vast forests and marshes should play an important role in decarbonisation efforts, according to a 2035 outlook from Russian energy company Lukoil.
Time to restore our forest heritage, not plant more lonely trees
Donald Trump surprised environmentalists when he announced the US would join the World Economic Forum’s one trillion tree planting initiative, writes Peter Wohlleben. However such schemes can turn into disasters if they aren't implemented the right way, he warns.
Bioeconomy hype shouldn’t put biodiversity preservation at risk, experts say
While experts claim that Poland could become key for the EU’s bioeconomy, scientists are calling for the sustainable use of forest resources in energy production. EURACTIV Poland reports.
French forest industry not taking advantage of ever-growing forests
The forest continues to expand in France, according to industry figures, but the industry is not making the most of it. EURACTIV France reports.