Europe’s renewable energy directive poised to harm global forests

Timothy D. Searchinger; Tim Beringer; Bjart Holtsmark; Daniel M. Kammen; Eric F. Lambin; Wolfgang Lucht; Peter Raven; Jean Pascal van Ypersele

doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06175-4

Europe’s renewable energy directive poised to harm global forests

Timothy D. Searchinger
, Tim Beringer
, Bjart Holtsmark
, Daniel M. Kammen
, Eric F. Lambin
, Wolfgang Lucht
, Peter Raven
, Jean Pascal van Ypersele

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

This comment raises concerns regarding the way in which a new European directive, aimed at reaching higher renewable energy targets, treats wood harvested directly for bioenergy use as a carbon-free fuel. The result could consume quantities of wood equal to all Europe’s wood harvests, greatly increase carbon in the air for decades, and set a dangerous global example.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	3741
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	9
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06175-4
State	Published - Dec 1 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General
General Physics and Astronomy

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10.1038/s41467-018-06175-4

Cite this

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title = "Europe{\textquoteright}s renewable energy directive poised to harm global forests",

abstract = "This comment raises concerns regarding the way in which a new European directive, aimed at reaching higher renewable energy targets, treats wood harvested directly for bioenergy use as a carbon-free fuel. The result could consume quantities of wood equal to all Europe{\textquoteright}s wood harvests, greatly increase carbon in the air for decades, and set a dangerous global example.",

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AU - Searchinger, Timothy D.

AU - Beringer, Tim

AU - Holtsmark, Bjart

AU - Kammen, Daniel M.

AU - Lambin, Eric F.

AU - Lucht, Wolfgang

AU - Raven, Peter

AU - van Ypersele, Jean Pascal

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - This comment raises concerns regarding the way in which a new European directive, aimed at reaching higher renewable energy targets, treats wood harvested directly for bioenergy use as a carbon-free fuel. The result could consume quantities of wood equal to all Europe’s wood harvests, greatly increase carbon in the air for decades, and set a dangerous global example.

AB - This comment raises concerns regarding the way in which a new European directive, aimed at reaching higher renewable energy targets, treats wood harvested directly for bioenergy use as a carbon-free fuel. The result could consume quantities of wood equal to all Europe’s wood harvests, greatly increase carbon in the air for decades, and set a dangerous global example.

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Europe’s renewable energy directive poised to harm global forests

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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