Welcome to our latest newsletter full of updates about campaigns that we – and you – have been supporting, and policy developments.
Read @biofuelwatch Nov 2023 newsletter here with updates on the global weekend of action, international day of action and how to take action with your MP #axedrax #BigBadBiomass Click To Tweet1.Global weekend of action against fossil fuels
2.International Day of action against Big Biomass
3. Take action with your MP
4. Update from California
5. Annual report 2023
6. Sign petition: End the destruction of Romanian forests
1.Global weekend of action against fossil fuels
On the 15th and16th of September Biofuelwatch joined campaigners from around the world for a weekend of action calling for an end to climate wrecking fossil fuels and tree burning. Actions included rallies in London, Leeds and Edinburgh, a two day Barclays protest in Liverpool, and online photo actions. Globally it is estimated nearly half a million people took to the streets to call on governments to end climate wrecking fossil fuels and tree burning. Thank you to everyone who supported the movement and took part globally.
2.International Day of Action Against Big Biomass
Following the actions in September we turned our attention to mobilise for the International Day of Action Against Big Biomass on the 19th October. We were part of a network of over 200 NGOs globally taking action to highlight the negative environmental and social impacts of large scale biomass energy. On the 12th October we hosted a webinar which aimed to centre frontline voices talking about the negative impacts of the biomass industry. We heard from Dr Treva Gear from Dogwood Alliance, Michelle Connolly from Conservation North, and Len Vanderstar and Jay Gilden from Smithers in British Columbia. If you missed this you can watch it again here. On the 19th of October we were joined by activists in London, Liverpool and York outside Barclays to highlight the bank’s financing of biomass, and calling on it to “Drop Drax”. We also hosted a webinar focussing on the EU’s three largest pulp and paper-producing countries: Sweden, Finland and Portugal, you can watch it here if you missed it. Thank you everyone who took part in our actions in person, online or contacted your MP to support an end to all subsidies for burning wood in power stations.
3. Take action with your MP
The mobilisation globally was amazing during September and October but we need to keep up the pressure on our government in the UK to stop subsidies for tree burning. This month we were outside the Labour Party conference, raising awareness around the impacts of biomass burning at Drax, and BECCS as a false solution, and asking MPs to sign our pledge. We are continuing to ask if you can support us by contacting your MP to ask them to take a stand against all subsidies for burning wood in power stations by signing the pledge.
The most effective way to influence your MP is to meet with them. We’ve written a draft email for you to send to your MP asking them to meet with you. Please click the button below to go to that action!
Lastly if you are unable to meet your MP you can also call their office. You can find your MP’s phone number on theparliament directory of MPs or on their website/social media. We have also written a short script which can help guide your conversation please click below to find out more
4. Update from California
We would like to share with you an opinion piece our colleague Gary Hughes from California has written but which media outlets declined to publish. The piece is related to a recent court decision declaring the environmental review of the Philipps 66 biofuel refinery project to have violated bedrock California Law. Please read and share this article as widely as you can.
5. Annual report 2023
As we draw nearer to the end of the year we are pleased to share with you our annual report which reflects on some of the great work our passionate staff, volunteers and supporters have contributed to over the year. Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our calls to action online and in person. We will continue to challenge climate wrecking companies, and the false solutions promoted by Drax, to help protect communities and forests across the globe.
6. Sign petition: End the destruction of Romanian forests
Romanian primary and old-growth forests (POGFs) are still being cut without regard to their ecological, conservation and climate change relevance and without appropriate assessment and full disclosure of these activities or their legality. Euronatur have a petition to the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries to Stop the destruction of primary and old-growth forests in Romania and impose a moratorium on ongoing logging in Natura 2000 sites. Please support this campaign to bring this issue to the forefront of the political agenda and sign the petition letting the EU know you do not stand for this destruction!