Terra Mater
Why Wood Pellets Are NOT a Green Energy Source
Scarce resources are causing problems around the world. Along Egypt's lifeline, the Nile, water scarcity could even end in war: ▶️ https://youtu.be/WKCW5Gg6Ffo
Biomass makes up roughly 60% of the EU’s renewable energy, supported by large subsidies worth €13bn in 2020. Demand is growing – this year the EU is expected to burn 24 million tons of wood pellets. But there’s one major problem: burning wood is far from green.
How does biomass damage the planet? Where do the EU’s wood pellets come from? How might this energy source threaten our ancient protected forests? Why are even US forests threatened? And have recent warning calls at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh/Egypt been heard? Join Eva as she investigates Europe’s little-known pellet problem.
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🔗 SOURCES:
Graphic Sources:
[1] TC 02:08-02:15
Official Journal of the European Union
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2009:140:FULL&from=EN
[2] TC 02:16-02:19
2022 Report on the achievement of the 2020 renewable energy targets
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/2022-report-achievement-2020-renewable-energy-targets_en
[3] TC 02:34-02:41
EU limits subsidies for burning trees under renewable energy directive
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/14/eu-limits-subsidies-for-burning-trees-under-renewable-energy-directive
[4] TC 02:42-02:46
European Wood Pellet Consumption
https://biomassmagazine.com/uploads/posts/web/2016/10/AEBIOM16-9_14773468476234.JPG
[5] TC 02:46-02:56
WPAC promotes Canadian pellets in Italy
https://www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/wpac-promotes-canadian-pellets-in-italy-6827/
[6] TC 02:57-03:02
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action,
website 2022
https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/EN/FAQ/Market-Incentive-Programme-MAP/faq-map-02.html
[7] TC 03:03-03:09
United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service: EU Wood Pellet Annual
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=EU%20Wood%20Pellet%20Annual_The%20Hague_European%20Union_E42022-0049.pdf
[8] TC 03:10-03:14
Bioenergy Europe's 2022 Pellets Report
https://bioenergyeurope.org/article/389-sr-22-pellets.html
[9] TC 06:17-06:44
Woody Biomass for Power and Heat, Chatham House 2017
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2017/02/woody-biomass-power-and-heat/2-accounting-biomass-carbon-emissions
In-Video Quotes:
TC 00:01, 00:04
Energy expert Tom Kloza warns diesel prices could go haywire over the next 100 days, CNBC Television
https://youtu.be/J4iOnZqCthI
TC 00:02
Calls for government to intervene in energy crisis, 9 News Australia
https://youtu.be/dSlwACtF5r4
TC 00:03
Cost of living crisis: Why are energy bills going up so much?, Sky News
https://youtu.be/HyEsvhDVwuQ
TC 00:05
Sky high energy bills: Will it get worse?, Sky News
https://youtu.be/mZc5xVvyrFk
TC 00:10
UK energy crisis: Plan for three-hour power blackouts unveiled, Sky News
https://youtu.be/CTkfvZ48J2I
TC 00:16
Russian Navy ships seen in the vicinity of Nord Stream pipeline leaks, CNN
https://youtu.be/cGQNJug7mAw
TC 00:23
EU Ministers Call for Emergency Energy Measures, Bloomberg Markets and Finance
https://youtu.be/_El39rNO2vU
TC 00:27
Chevron CEO: 'Painful' energy crisis could push Europe into recession, CNN
https://youtu.be/vALl29_eGuI
TC 00:50-00:52
Investigation into habitat degradation in Făgăraș, Domogled, Maramureș and Frumoasa Natura 2000 sites. Agent Green, ClientEarth, EuroNatur – 2022.
https://www.saveparadiseforests.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Investigation-into-habitat-degradation-in-Natura-2000-sites_Feb-2022.pdf
TC 01:31, 09:11
Ursula Von der Leyen, World Economic Forum 2020
TC 01:51
António Guterres, Opening Speech COP27, 2022
TC 03:24
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire Definitions, European Commission
https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/timber/mis/jfsq/2016/jq2016def-e.pdf
TC 03:35
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire Definitions, European Commission
https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/timber/mis/jfsq/2016/jq2016def-e.pdf
TC 05:27-05:46
CBS Mornings
https://youtu.be/QZPKnYi6umE?t=387
TC 05:47-05:50
Global markets for biomass energy are devastating US forests, Natural Resources Defense Council 2022
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/global-markets-biomass-energy-devastating-us-forests-202209.pdf
TC 07:56-07:58
Dutch government rules out new subsidies for burning wood for energy, biofuelwatch 2022
https://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/2022/dutch-subsidies-decision/
TC 08:01-08:09
Antti Kurvinen on Twitter
https://twitter.com/kurvisentwiit/status/1527268908788596742
TC 08:10-08:15
Amendment A9-0208/2022
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0208-AM-042-048_EN.pdf
TC 08:46
Al Gore, Opening Speech COP27, 2022
Published Nov 18, 2022