Welcome to our December 2024 newsletter full of updates about campaigns that we – and you – have been supporting, and policy developments.
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1.Reflection on 2024
2. Support Dogwood Alliance
3.Annual report
4. Urgent Action: Call Your MP to Stop Tree-Burning Subsidies
5. Update from California
1.Reflection on 2024
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on everything we have achieved together in 2024. From impactful investigations to dynamic demonstrations, your support has been at the heart of every action we’ve taken. Here’s a look back at what we’ve accomplished together
2024 was a year of crucial political action, with many of you contacting your MPs to demand an end to the destructive practice of burning trees for energy. Your emails, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings made a real difference. We’ve heard from many of you about your MPs’ responses—thank you for keeping us informed and for holding them accountable. As we move into 2025, with its heightened political stakes, it’s more critical than ever to continue this pressure. Please don’t stop reaching out to your MPs directly—every voice counts! Your participation in demonstrations has been inspiring. In March, we joined forces for a powerful demonstration outside the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero, marking the International Day of Forests. Together, we called for a halt to subsidies for tree-burning energy projects. Later in the year, during the International Day of Action Against Big Biomass, activists took to the streets in Liverpool and London, making our voices heard loud and clear.
This year saw the release of several critical reports, shedding light on the devastating environmental impacts of bioenergy. Highlights include:
- A joint investigation into Drax’s pellet sourcing in British Columbia, conducted with Conservation North and Bulkley Valley Stewardship Coalition, revealed the destruction of old-growth forests.
- Reports on the misuse of biomass subsidies in Portugal and the harmful implications of Power-to-X biomethanol technologies in Estonia.
- The publication of “Flying on Garbage“, a critical look at Fulcrum BioEnergy’s claims about waste-based biofuels.
These reports wouldn’t have reached as wide an audience without your support in sharing, discussing, and amplifying them. Thank you to everyone who attended our webinars throughout the year. These online gatherings, featuring guest speakers from Conservation North, Dogwood Alliance, and Stop Burning Trees, equipped us with tools and strategies to campaign effectively. Whether it was ahead of the June elections, during September’s Global Week of Action, or in October for the International Day of Action Against Big Biomass, your engagement was vital. Recordings are still available on our youtube channel here for those who missed them—please share them widely! Our campaigns extended far beyond the UK. In addition to this we wrote about the threat of biochar to forests in France and stood in solidarity with Croatian activists facing SLAPP lawsuits for challenging unsustainable biomass practices. On the international stage, our colleague Gary based in California continues to collaborate with Hands Off Mother Earth (HOME) alliance to challenge risky geoengineering proposals and carbon market policies. Gary also contributed a piece to the november issue of EcoNews on page 15 here.
Looking ahead, As we celebrate our collective achievements, we also recognise that the fight is far from over. Subsidies for destructive biomass practices persist, forests continue to be exploited, and corporate greenwashing is rampant. We need your continued support to keep up the momentum. Together, we can push for a just and sustainable future—one where forests are valued for their vital role in the ecosystem, not as fuel.
Thank you for standing with us in 2024. Let’s keep building on this momentum in 2025!
2. Support Dogwood Alliance
This festive season, we are dedicating our Christmas appeal to Dogwood Alliance, an inspiring organisation working to protect forests and communities in the southern United States. Their vital work in challenging the destructive biomass industry has been central to the fight for forest preservation and climate justice. This year, their efforts have been made even more challenging by the devastating hurricanes that struck North Carolina, impacting both their team and the communities they support. Despite these setbacks, they continue to stand firm in defence of forests and the environment.
We’re calling on our supporters to help Dogwood Alliance at this critical time. Your donation can make a real difference, aiding their recovery from the effects of the hurricane and supporting their ongoing efforts to protect forests from deforestation and industrial biomass. Let’s show our solidarity this Christmas and ensure that Dogwood Alliance can continue their essential work. Visit dogwoodalliance.org to learn more and to contribute.
3.Annual report
As we reflect on 2024, it’s clear that this has been a year of challenges and progress for both the climate and environmental movements. From uncovering the devastating impacts of biomass energy to amplifying the voices of communities most affected by these practices, our work has remained steadfast in fighting for a future that values forests, ecosystems, and the people who depend on them. This report captures the breadth of our efforts, the partnerships we’ve nurtured, and the crucial role our supporters have played every step of the way.
Inside, you’ll find a detailed account of our campaigns, investigations, and achievements from the past year. Whether it’s mobilising demonstrations, producing groundbreaking reports, or standing in solidarity with global allies, this report highlights how collective action is making a difference. As we look to 2025, we are reminded that the fight is far from over—but together, we have the power to create real change. Thank you for being part of this journey.
4.Urgent Action: Call Your MP to Stop Tree-Burning Subsidies
As we head into 2025, it is more important than ever to take a stand against harmful biomass subsidies. These policies continue to fund the destruction of forests, driving the climate crisis rather than helping to address it. By calling your MP, you can make your voice heard and help shift political priorities away from burning trees for energy. MPs are far more likely to take notice of personal, direct contact, so your calls can make a significant impact.
After the holiday period, we urge all our supporters to start the new year by contacting their MPs. It is vital to remind them that forest destruction has no place in the UK’s climate strategy. Together, we can ensure this issue remains a top priority and push for real solutions that protect ecosystems and tackle climate change. Visit our Call Your MP page for tips and guidance on making your call count.
5. Update from California
Discover why renewable diesel—touted as a climate solution in Humboldt County’s Regional Climate Action Plan—may be far from the green answer we need. In this thought-provoking article, our colleague Gary Graham Hughes writes about the hidden environmental, social, and climate costs of this so-called “renewable” fuel. From rising global food prices to increased greenhouse gas emissions, explore how misguided biofuel policies could be leading us into a climate dead end. Read more on page 15 of Eco News to learn why a course correction is urgently needed.
Together, we’ve achieved so much, but the fight is far from over. As we move into 2025, we’ll need your continued support to keep forests standing and hold those in power accountable. Let’s carry this momentum forward into the new year. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a hopeful start to 2025.