Indeed the report finds that most of the forest biomass currently being burnt for energy in the EU not only increases emissions compared to fossil fuels, but does so for decades placing in peril the EU’s net zero emissions target for 2050 and the chances of stopping runaway climate change.
According to the Commission, the burning of biomass emits more than 350 million tonnes of CO2 per year throughout the EU.
Ironically, however, EU energy policy currently incentivises burning the type of biomass the Commission’s report shows is dangerous and counter to EU climate policy, which, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), fails to draw the conclusion that current energy policy should be changed.