Our campaigns

BIOFUELS

Biofuelwatch challenges the expansion of crop based and waste based biofuels for road transport and aviation. We highlight their real climate impacts, including indirect land use change, deforestation, land grabbing, and risks to food security and human rights. We call for genuine emissions reductions rather than replacing fossil fuels with other forms of burning.

BECCS AND BIOCHAR

Biofuelwatch opposes climate geoengineering approaches such as BECCS and biochar. These technologies are unproven at scale and depend on vast amounts of biomass, with serious risks to forests, ecosystems and communities. They also risk delaying real climate action by diverting attention from urgent emissions cuts.

#AXEDRAX CAMPAIGN

The Axe Drax campaign challenges large scale tree burning for electricity and the public subsidies that support it. We oppose the expansion of biomass power and plans to combine it with carbon capture. Our work focuses on protecting forests, exposing false climate claims, and ending support for destructive bioenergy.

BIOENERGY IN CALIFORNIA

In California, bioenergy and carbon removal proposals are being promoted as climate solutions. Biofuelwatch tracks these developments and highlights the risks of locking in combustion based infrastructure and expanding biomass demand. We advocate for real climate action based on cutting fossil fuel use, not replacing it with large scale bioenergy.

EUROPE: SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST BIG BIOMASS ACROSS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

We support campaigns across Europe opposing large scale biomass and related infrastructure. Our work connects groups across countries and shares evidence on climate impacts, forest loss, biodiversity harm, air pollution and community impacts. We push for policies that prioritise real renewables and reduced energy demand.

BIOMASS BACKGROUND

Biomass Basics explains why burning wood and other biomass is not a climate solution. It covers carbon emissions, forest impacts, air pollution and the problems with sustainability claims. This section provides clear explanations and links to evidence for people new to the issue.

GET UPDATES >

Latest Updates

Biofuels

Shipping industry’s biofuels plan threatens rainforests, communities and climate

Feb 17, 2025

Open Letter to the Secretariat of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Click here to read the letter in Spanish 17th February, 2025 - The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) will soon finalise its negotiations on key climate laws for international...

El plan de biocombustibles de la industria naviera amenaza la selva tropical, las comunidades –

Feb 17, 2025

Carta abierta a la Secretaría de la Organización Marítima Internacional (OMI) Haga clic aquí para ver la carta en inglés. 17 de febrero de 2025 - La Organización Marítima Internacional (OMI) de las Naciones Unidas finalizará en breve sus negociaciones sobre leyes...

Putting Rainforests into Fuel Tanks? Groups Warn IMO Against Biofuel Disaster

Feb 17, 2025

Brazilian government called out for leading push for biofuels in the global shipping industry LONDON / UTRECHT, 17 February 2025 – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its 176 Member States must oppose the promotion of biofuels in international shipping...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Biofuels page

BECCS and Biochar

Geoengineering Gets Big Push In Deceptive Climate Bill Introduced In California State Legislature

Mar 27, 2020

By Gary Graham Hughes, California Policy Monitor, Biofuelwatch, March 2020 In a surreptitious yet aggressive effort to promote unproven and risky climate geoengineering, California state legislators have recently introduced a bill that places extensive emphasis on the...

What have we learned about biochar since 2011?

Jan 22, 2020

In 2011 Biofuelwatch published Biochar: A Critical Review of Science and Policy. In that report we highlighted the uncertainties about biochar including the large land area that would be required to supply biomass for a global scale impact, the contradictory results...

BECCS: Discourse about unicorns descends into real-world farce

Feb 19, 2019

This month’s “breaking news” on BECCS: Small UK startup company to test some unproven new solvent nobody’s published anything about in order to help Drax put fizz into beer The ‘world’s first’ Bio Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) ‘pilot project’ has...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

BECCS and Biochar page

#AxeDrax Campaign

#AxeDrax AGM Protest 2016

Apr 20, 2016

Axe The Draxosaurus Scores of demonstrators took to the streets on April 20th 2016 to demand an end to subsidies for Drax power station, during the Drax PLC Annual General Meeting in the City of London. Highlight moments captured in this engaging video,...

#AxeDrax 2016 photos

Apr 20, 2016

Video: #AxeDrax: North Carolina farmers speak out about the destruction of their forests

Mar 18, 2016

Video with interviews with farmers from North Carolina speaking about the destruction of forests in their region to make pellets which are burned by Drax

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

#AxeDrax Campaign page

Bioenergy in California

California Governor Doubles Down Supporting High Carbon Liquid Biofuels As Refinery Conversion Governance Concerns Intensify

Aug 11, 2022

In late July 2022 the administration of California Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that included a list of priorities of what the Governor wants to see elevated in the development of the 2022 Scoping Plan. In California...

Aviation ‘Net Zero’ Bill Advances in California Legislature as Irregular Permitting of SF Bay Area Refinery Conversions to Biofuels Receive Legal Challenges

Jun 13, 2022

The California Legislature’s Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality has advanced a bill that aggressively promotes the creation of an incentives plan to massively increase the quantities of so-called “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” (SAF) produced and consumed...

Submission opposing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels Bill in California

May 26, 2022

Biofuelwatch submission to the Californian Senate Environmental Quality Committee opposing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels bill: Our organization Biofuelwatch offers this position letter to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee for your consideration. Biofuelwatch...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Bioenergy in California

Europe: Support for campaigns against big biomass across European countries

Rapport sur le projet de biochar proposé par MIRAIA à Garlin

Dec 2, 2024

Le biochar constitue une nouvelle menace pour les forêts françaises In English Cliquez ici pour télécharger le rapport complet un forêt près de Sauveterre-de-de-Béarn (photo: Forêts Vivantes Pyrénées) Résumé La start-up MIRAIA souhaite construire six ou sept usines de...

Biochar poses new threats to forests in France

Dec 2, 2024

MIRAIA's Garlin biochar project - joint report by Biofuelwatch and Forêts Vivantes Pyrénées Click here to download the report En français A wood near Sauveterre-de-Béarn (photo: Forêts Vivantes Pyrénées) Executive Summary The start-up company MIRAIA wants to...

Infopapier über das von Hansekraft geplante Holz-HKW in Stade

Nov 19, 2024

Die Pläne für ein riesiges Altholzkraftwerk in Stade Gemeinsames Infopapier von NABU, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, ROBIN WOOD, Biofuelwatch, unterstützt von der BI Bützfleth Bürgerinitiative für eine umweltfreundliche Industrie Hier klicken um das Papier herunterzuladen In...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Europe: Support for campaigns against big biomass across European countries

Biomass Basics

Learn more about why burning wood and other biomass is not a climate solution. This section provides clear explanations and links to evidence for people new to the issue.

Biomass Basics