The FAB is the national federation against the burning of biomass and deforestation. Our organization consists of various action groups and foundations from the Netherlands.
We are both for the protection of existing trees and forests and for their expansion inside and outside Europe.
The FAB cooperates with several international organizations to prevent the felling and burning of trees for the generation of energy through actions and campaigns, information provision and distribution and lobbying activities. We are explicitly not a closed organization but and are open to anyone who wants to make an effort for this cause.
The complaint is based on an extensive report by both organizations, which substantiates how RWE, through a biomass certification system it established itself—the Green Gold Label (GGL)—seeks to convince politicians and civil servants that woody biomass is sustainable. In practice, however, every stage of the certification, monitoring, logging, transport, and combustion of woody biomass is characterized by conflicts of interest.
The report is partly based on a 2020 research report by the EDSP ECO Foundation, as well as an accompanying mini-documentary that exposes network corruption and systemic failures in government oversight.
Environmental and nature organizations Comité Schone Lucht and Biofuelwatch have filed a criminal complaint against energy company RWE on suspicion of fraud and forgery related to biomass certification. Through this certification scheme, RWE receives millions of euros per year in government sustainability subsidies, while large-scale logging of trees is taking place worldwide in order to burn them in RWE’s biomass power plants. The SDE subsidy scheme in question demonstrably harms public health, nature, the climate, and thus the future of our children.
The EU is now burning biomass on an industrial scale.
And the lack of meaningful restrictions in the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has encouraged the burning of types of biomass that actually increase emissions compared to fossil fuels — accelerating climate change instead of slowing it down. Turning crops into biofuels, for example, makes no sense in climate terms when that land could be used to grow food instead, or to restore natural carbon sinks such as forests.
And scientists, including those working for the European Commission, have warned that burning trees (as opposed to waste from sawmills) can increase emissions for decades or even centuries compared to fossil fuels.
This is because burning wood produces more emissions than fossil fuels for the same amount of energy, and because of how long it takes for trees to grow back.
DOCUMENTATION
We collected more then a thousand research articles and reports on the impact of the logging and burning of woody biomass and all the issues and risks surrounding it which we have read and analyzed as a basis for this website.
VIDEOS
Are you looking for a video about the logging and burning of woody biomass and the actions of the 200 organizations trying to prevent them from burning down our forests and polluting our environment. We've collected them so hit the button below.
NEWS
Want to read the latest news about the logging and burning of woody biomass and the actions of the 200 organizations trying to prevent them from burning down our forests and polluting our environment? We've created a news archive about woody biomass for you.
To conserve our nature and prevent the worst impacts of climate change, it is crucial to commit to protecting and restoring our natural forests. Yet our concerted efforts to conserve our forests and planet are systematically undermined by EU leaders. EU policy falsely and misleadingly promotes the burning of wood from forests as 'CO2-free' renewable energy. As a result, logging in our forests and the associated greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. Felling and burning forests is bad for health, nature, the climate and therefore our future. Yet every year the EU is becoming more dependent on burning wood to meet its renewable energy targets. Consumers are forced to give up billions in subsidies every year for this false and deceptive climate measure. This is a waste of money.
The Federation against Biomass Power Plants, in collaboration with several international organizations, has set up a petition that we will soon hand over to Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans and the governments of the EU Member States to drastically change this disastrous policy. We could really use your support!
Greenpeace stated the report was a cowardly and PBL unworthy report, Johan Vollenbroek stated the report missed all the essentials and the Federation against Biomass plants & Deforestation agrees. The PBL report doesn’t provide the necessary recommendations for a good climate policy and states that Dutch climate policy can’t do without the burning of biomass. This statement is false. On the contrary, biomass combustion increases the climate problem, causes damage to our health and reduces biodiversity. Read our full statement on the PBL report here: 2020-05-08-thefab-response-to-pbl-report-on-the-availability-and-applications-of-sustainable-biomass-english.pdf
The Federation against Biomass Plants and Deforestation contributed to the research by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) which will be used as the basis for the advice of the Social and Economic Council (SER) on the availability of sustainable biomass and its application possibilities in the Netherlands with regard to new biomass policy of the Dutch Government. The entire PBL investigation is a total scam, but we have provided our input in preparation for the multiple lawsuits that we are preparing. We have added the link to the main document of our contribution below: 2020-03-16-edsp-eco-input-for-the-gov-nl-pbl-research-on-the-availability-of-sustainable-biomass-and-usage-in-the-netherlands-english.pdf
You may be wondering why biomass plants are opening so easily even though there is so much protest against it. Our pro-biomass lobby research shows that millions are being put into the lobby world of the biomass power stations by, among others, the energy companies, politicians, scientists and investors. This article is part of an extensive research into the paid pro-biomass lobby activities in the Netherlands: 2020-03-16-edsp-eco-pro-biomass-lobbyfacts-research-part-1-the-energy-companies-english.pdf
Not only the energy companies and politicians are to blame for the rise of the biomass plants. Investors also play an important role even though they should be taking responsibility for our health, nature, climate and the future. Therefore, together with international organizations, we have written a letter to the RWE investor: 2019-11-08-thefab-biofuelwatch-dogwoodalliance-environmentalpapernetwork-letter-to-rwe-financiers-on-the-risks-of-investing-in-biomass-english.pdf
For decades there has been a conflict of interest in the science that is practiced around the subject of energy. In part 3 of the pro-biomass lobby research we show that financial incentives make it difficult for scientists to come up with objective research results and that they are influenced by companies and politicians in their research methods.
We also show that scientists hold additional functions that cause conflicts of interests. They take positions in commercial companies, set up conflicting companies themselves or they enter into alliances with stakeholders. This seriously jeopardizes the objectivity of their research. We have also shown that scientists go into politics and in policy-making give priority to the interests of their own enterprise or the interests of the companies with which they collaborate. Finally, we show that the sustainability programs that are responsible for guaranteeing the sustainability of the entire chain of biomass combustion consistently consist of prominent people from the energy and biomass sectors.
Every part in the biomass chain, from certification, harvesting, production, trade, transport to incineration and procurement of subsidies is infused with conflicts of interest. It is a shock to us that this way of acting is legal. We find it ethically irresponsible and reprehensible that scientists associated with the Copernicus Institute, that presents itself as an independent institute for sustainable development, in our eyes are concerned with big scale-paid greenwashing for organizations such as RWE Essent who are demonstrably guilty of causing damage to our health, nature, the environment and therefore our future. This article is part of an extensive study on the paid pro-biomass lobby activities in the Netherlands: 2020-03-16-edsp-eco-pro-biomass-lobbyfacts-research-part-3-rwe-essent-and-the-scientists-of-the-copernicus-institute-english.pdf
DOCUMENTATION
This webpage contains hundreds of research articles and reports on the impact of the logging and burning of woody biomass and all the issues and risks surrounding it which we have read and analyzed as a basis for this website.
VIDEOS
This webpage contains all the national and international videos about the logging and burning of woody biomass and the actions of the 200 organizations trying to prevent them from burning down our forests and polluting our environment.
NEWS
This webpage contains all the national and international news items about the logging and burning of woody biomass and the actions of the 200 organizations trying to prevent them from burning down our forests and polluting our environment.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We will have to hold the politicians accountable for the disaster which they are causing by stealing our taxes and giving it to the owners and shareholders of dirty billion dollar companies. Asking them politely is not going to work. Help us prosecute them!
BIODIVERSITY
This webpage contains the quotes, claims and statements from international research papers on the impact of logging and burning woody biomass on the earths biodiversity. The UN claims 1 million species are about to go extinct. We are running out of time.
CARBON DIOXIDE
This webpage contains the quotes, claims and statements from international research papers on Carbon Dioxide emissions caused by the logging, transport and burning of woody biomass and the impact it has on climate change.
CERTIFICATION
This webpage contains the quotes, claims and statements on certification, regulations, monitoring and schemes required for the sustainable woody biomass supply chain obtained from official documents and international research papers.
ECOTOXICITY
This page contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the ecotoxicity of burning woody biomass and the effect it causes on our health and environment.
HEALTH RISKS
This page contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the many health risks and the millions of early deaths caused annually by the logging and burning of woody biomass.
LEGAL
This page contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the legal national & international framework in which the logging and burning of woody biomass is to be placed.
LOBBY FACTS
This page contains the results of our pro biomass lobby research which shows that millions are put into the lobby world of the biomass plants every year by, among others, the energy companies, the banks, politicians, scientists and investors.
LULUCF
This page contains the quotes, claims and official research results that show that the current subsidy rules undermine the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and violate treaty obligations and fundamental human rights.
SOLUTIONS
This page contains the many eco-friendly solutions gathered from international research papers or provided by organizations to globally replace the burning of fossil fuels or woody biomass used to produce electricity or heat.
SUBSIDIES
This webpage contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the massive amount of subsidies provided for the burning of woody biomass to produce electricity or heat.
SUSTAINABILITY
This page contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the sustainability requirements and status of the logging and burning of woody biomass for the production of electricity or heat.
WHOLE TREES
This page contains the quotes, claims and statements from official documents and international research papers on the logging of whole trees used for the burning of woody biomass for the production of electricity or heat.
TAKE ACTION
This webpage contains all the actions & campagnes we gathered from the more than 200 international organizations which you can assist and support to prevent the logging and burning of woody biomass to produce electricity or heat.
Actiegroep stop de houtkap Lansingerland | |
Aktie Redactie Bomen en Bos | |
Arnhems Peil | |
Beemster Vanzelfsprekend | |
Behoud Bomen Arnhem | |
Bloei! in Arnhem | |
Boom en bos | |
Bomenbescherming Amsterdam | |
Bomen Brigade Boxtel | |
Bomenkapmeldpunt | |
Bomenridders Groningen | |
Bomenstichting | |
Bomenstichting Achterhoek | |
De Klimaatcoalitie | |
De Tree Union | |
Elderveld Groen | |
Klimaatcoalitie Arnhem | |
OP Renkum | |
Code Rood | |
Comité Matiging Kapbeleid Slangenburg | |
Comité Schone Lucht | |
Democratisch Zaanstad | |
Duurzaam Dorp Diemen | |
Ecoplan | |
Ecovrede | |
EDSP ECO | |
Eetbaar Arnhem | |
Fossielvrij Amsterdam | |
Geen biomassa centrales in Waddinxveen | |
Global Forest Coalition | |
Grenzeloos Groen | |
Groen in Amersfoort | |
Groen Weert | |
Houtrookvrij Barneveld | |
Kritisch Bosbeheer | |
Laat mij staan | |
Lekker Groen | |
Meneer Boom en Vrienden | |
Milieudefensie Leiden | |
Mobilisation for the Environment | |
Natuur & Milieu Schuytgraaf | |
Natuur- en milieuvereniging Het Groene Hart Brabant. | |
Natuurlijk Achterhoek | |
Partij voor de Bomen Texel | |
Tropism Art & Science Foundation | |
Tuin van Zeeland | |
Vereniging Open Landschap te Rijen | |
Voedselbos Hilkensberg | |
Vrijwillig Bosbeheer Noord-Nederland | |
Werkgroep Bomen Groningen | |
Werkgroep Houtstook-vrij |
Maarten Visschers | Martien Spitzen | |
Janny Takens | Cor Vinke | Enny Kleikamp - van Leeuwen |
Dick Jager | Jan van de Pol | Thirsa Kros |
Pieter van de Kraats | Bas 't Hart | |
Pieter Parmentier | Magda Bolt | |
Wim Lentink | Marlies de Bruin | Joke Volkers Vos |
Hans Loogman | Rutger van den Hoofdakker | Ran Joosten |
Martijn Katan | Suzanne Rutten | |
Chiene Vos | Jan Wennink | Malène Duijst |
Arjen Pootjes | Gerard Speekenbrink | |
Jan Groot | Ronald Wassenaar | Anthonie Verschoor |
Jan Kuijt | Emile Hermkens | Coos van Rooijen |
Daan Koole | Monica Francisca | Frans van der Krul |
Laura Vink | Theo Haffmans | Jan Leemkuil |
Rini Ruitenschild | Wil Frijns | Albert Kroon |
Coby van der Velden | Karen van Ede | Marleen Pientka |
Atwil Louwerse | Aad Luymes | Clem Follender |
Felix Amahorseija | Arie de Jong | Ron Stoop |
Cees van der Put | Christa Visscher | Bas Jansen |
Cees de Valk | Michiel Wulffele | Wim Porte |
Jan de Vries | Gert-Jan Meijer | Harm de Leeuw |
Rene Beusmans | Igor Freeke | Joost Dirkx |
Armand Stelma | Albert Berg | Paul Rutten |
Willem Geerds | Edwin Simonis | Ab Kuijer |
Carolien Boerma | Pieter Bellaar | Willem Boers |
Renate Verhagen | Beb Lambrechts | Marian |
Pieter van Vlaardingen | Nettie Molenaar | Elaine Gerritsen |
Arie Pieter van Duijn | Richard van Koetsveld van Ankeren | Maria van Veen |
Nettie Molenaar | Pieter van Vlaardingen | Ellen van Tilborg |
Maria van Veen | Barbara Noort | Berend de Vos |
Dennis van Biene | Peter Blesgraaf | Frank Vermeer |
Joke Druppers | Cees Derksen | Martine Pijpe |
Elise Spit | Erlinde Vermeegen | Laura Monathen |
Theo Vonk | Filip vandeputte | Annette Segaar |
Mathilde Schoneveld | Douwe Riegstra | Frank Duiker |
Ed van Puijenbroek | Ardine Nicolai | Wankja Ferguson |
Ries van der Hout | Alex Schaap | Paulette in 't Veld |
Edith Cammenga | Hannie Riksen | L Metzelaar |
Evas | Benschop | Frits ter Brugge |
Hans Koster | Vanessa van Dijk | Serge Claessen |
Hans Westerhof | Ard Helgers | Lode van der Pol |
Carmen van Deutekom | Cecile van de Zand |
Biofuelwatch | ||
Forests, Climate and Biomass Energy Working Group | ||
Dogwood Alliance |
The organisations below believe that we must move beyond burning forest biomass to effectively address climate change and call on governments, financiers, companies and civil society to avoid expansion of the forest biomass based energy industry and move away from its use. Subsidies for forest biomass energy must be eliminated. Protecting and restoring the world’s forests is a climate change solution, burning them is not.
Organisatie | Website |
Abibiman Foundation - Ghana | |
All India Forum of Forest Movements - India | |
Alliance for a Clean Environment, Western Australia - Australia | |
Alliance for the Wild Rockies - USA | |
Association de Lutte contre les Nuisances et la Pollution | |
AMAF – Benin | |
Amis de la Terre - Togo | |
ARA - Germany | |
Arise for Social Justice – Springfield - USA | |
Arnhems Peil - Netherlands | |
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development - Asia | |
Australian Forest and Climate Alliance - Australia | |
Australian Rainforest Conservation Society - Australia | |
Ballina Environment Society - Australia | |
BankTrack - Europe | |
Battle Creek Alliance - USA | |
Behoud Bomen Arnhem - Netherlands | |
Bellingen Environment Centre, NSW - Australia | |
Biodiversity Conservation Center - Russia | |
Biofuelwatch - International | |
Birdlife - Europe | |
Blue Dalian - China | |
Bob Brown Foundation - Australia | |
Brighter Green - USA | |
Busselton Dunsborough Environment Centre, WA - Australia | |
California Chaparral Institute - USA | |
Canberra Forest Network, ACT - Australia | |
Canopee - France | |
Canopy - Canada | |
Censat Agua – Amigos de la Tierra Colombia - Colombia | |
Center for Biological Diversity - USA | |
Clarence Environment Centre, NSW - Australia | |
Client Earth - UK | |
Coffs Harbour Greens - Australia | |
Colectivo VientoSur - Chile | |
Concerned citizens of Franklin County - USA | |
Conservation Congress - USA | |
Conservatree - USA | |
Czech Coalition for Rivers - Czech Republic | |
Defiance Canyon Raptor Rescue - USA | |
Denkhaus Bremen - Germany | |
Doctors and Scientists against Wood Smoke Pollution - International | |
Dogwood Alliance - USA | |
Don’t Waste Arizona - USA | |
Earth Ethics - USA | |
Ecology Action Centre - Canada | |
Econexus - UK | |
EDSP - International | |
Endangered Species Coalition - USA | |
Environment East Gippsland - Australia | |
Environmental Paper Network | |
Estonian Forest Aid - Estonia | |
Extinction Rebellion Hawaii - USA | |
Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) - Nepal | |
FERN - Europe | |
Forest Media, NSW - Australia | |
Forest observatory - Morocco | |
Forests of the World - Denmark | |
Forum Ecologie & Papier - Germany | |
Fresnans against Fracking - USA | |
Friends of Siberian Forests - Russia | |
Friends of the Earth Bosnia & Herzegovina - Bosnia & Herzegovina | |
Friends of the Earth Finland - Finland | |
Friends of the Earth U.S.A. - USA | |
Friends of the Irish Environment | |
Friends of the Forest, mid South coast NSW - Australia | |
Friends of the Wild Swan - USA | |
Fund for Wild Nature - USA | |
Fundacja “Rozwój TAK – Odkrywki NIE - Poland | |
Geasphere - South-Africa | |
Gelderse Natuur en Milieufederatie - Netherlands | |
GEOS Institute - USA | |
Gesellschaft fur okologische Forschung e V. - Germany | |
Global Forest Coalition - International | |
Great Southern Forest, NSW - Australia | |
Green Longjiang - China | |
GreenLatinos - USA | |
Greenpeace International - International | |
Healthy Forest Coalition, Nova Scotia - Canada | |
Henoi - Paraguay | |
Humane Society International Australia - Australia | |
Indigenous Environmental Network - USA | |
Instytut Spraw Obewatelskich INSPRO - Poland | |
Jamesville Positive Action Committee - USA | |
John Muir Project - USA | |
Kalang Land and Environment Action Network, NSW - Australia | |
Kalang River Forest Alliance, NSW - Australia | |
Last Tree Laws - USA | |
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation - USA | |
Los Padres ForestWatch - USA | |
Margaret River Regional Environment Centre, WA - Australia | |
Massachusetts Forest Rescue - USA | |
Mighty Earth - USA | |
Milieudefensie - Netherlands | |
MOBilisation for the Environment | |
My Environment, Vic - Australia | |
Nambucca Valley Conservation Association, NSW - Australia | |
National Toxics Network, Australia - Australia | |
Natural Resources Defense Council - USA | |
Nimbin Environment Centre, NSW - Australia | |
NOAH (FoE Denmark) - Denmark | |
North Coast Environment Council, NSW - Australia | |
North Columbia Environmental Society - USA | |
North East Forest Alliance, NSW - Australia | |
Partnership for Policy Integrity - USA | |
Protect the Forest - Sweden | |
Public Lands Media - USA | |
Rachel Carson Council - USA | |
Rainforest Action Network - USA | |
Rainforest Information Centre - Australia | |
Rainforest Relief - USA | |
Renourish - USA | |
Restore: The North Woods - USA | |
Rettet de Regenwald - Germany | |
RICCE - Liberia | |
RootsKeeper - USA | |
Salva la Selva - Spain | |
Santa Fe Forest Coalition - USA | |
Save Brook Rd. Forest in WEndell State Forest - USA | |
Sequoia ForestKeeper - USA | |
Sierra Club - USA | |
Sierra Club BC - Canada | |
Snow Alliance - China | |
Society for Responsible Design - Australia | |
Soil Mates Cooperative - Canada | |
South East Forest Alliance - Australia | |
South East Forest Rescue - Australia | |
South East Region Conservation Alliance - Australia | |
Southern Environmental Law Center - USA | |
South-West Forests Defence Foundation, WA - Australia | |
STAND.earth - USA | |
Stichting Luchtfonds - Netherlands | |
Sustainable Agriculture and Communities Alliance - Australia | |
Swan View Coalition, Montana - USA | |
Terra! - Italy | |
The Corner House - UK | |
The Development Institute - Ghana | |
TUK Indonesia - Indonesia | |
Western Australian Forest Alliance - Australia | |
Wild Nature Institute - USA | |
WildWest Institute - USA | |
WOLF Forest Protection Movement | |
Women’s Environment & Development Organization - USA – International | |
Womens Earth and Climate Action Network - USA & International | |
Woodland League - Ireland | |
Woods Hole Research Center - USA | |
Wuhu Ecology Centre - China | |
Yellowstone to Uintas Connection - USA | |
ZERO - Portugal |
Wil jij ook je handen uit de mouwen steken voor een gezonder Nederland, een biodiverse natuur, een stabiel klimaat en daarmee een toekomst om naar uit te kijken? Neem dan contact op zodat we samen kunnen uitzoeken waar jij de beste bijdrage kunt leveren en waar jij je het fijnst bij voelt. Deelname is op basis van de principes en normen van de Klimaatcoalitie die in te zien zijn via deze link.