Biofuelwatch

Raising awareness of the negative impacts of industrial biofuels and bioenergy

Biofuelwatch provides systemic analysis based on secondary and occasionally primary research and undertakes advocacy and campaigning in relation to the climate, environmental, human rights and public health impacts of large-scale industrial bioenergy.

Our work

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.

Industrial scale bioenergy is harming communities and ecosystems as well as the climate

Featured

NESTE’s Biofuels: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Report about the Green Gold Label biomass certification scheme

Urgent action: Please ask your MP to say no to Drax’s AI data centre bid

Illusory Emissions Reductions from Biofuels Undermine California Progress on Climate

Latest updates

US Dept. of Agriculture Receives Near Unanimous Public Rejection of GE Trees

Jul 19, 2017

Statement from Biofuelwatch, Global Justice Ecology Project and Indigenous Environmental Network 19 July 2017 New York (US)–New Zealand-owned tree biotechnology company ArborGen faces near unanimous opposition to commercial deregulation of their...

Social movements in Chile oppose GE trees, plantations

Jun 30, 2017

Last month, Chilean social movements welcomed the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Tree Biotechnology 2017 conference with a week of action aimed at strengthening the movement against monoculture tree plantations and genetically engineered...

Portugal’s Wildfires: a Result of the Timber Industry

Jun 23, 2017

Wildfires in Portugal have been called “the worst such disaster in recent history.” Dozens of people burnt to death in their cars while trying to escape the inferno. But this horrific tragedy was human-made. One-quarter...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

GET
INVOLVED