Forests are Not Fuel: Workshop on Limits of Bioenergy, London 9th Oct

[mark at tlio.org.uk]

Interesting workshop, despite the glaringly obvious question which one 
wanders even needs asking in the promotional text 'But what do these 
sustainability standards really mean? Can they offer a guarantee to 
really protect environmental and human rights norms? ', to which the 
answer is undoubtedly 'NO':



Biofuelwatch and Friends of the Earth are pleased to invite you to a 
FREE half day event:

Forests are Not Fuel: The Limits of Bioenergy in Climate Mitigation

Tuesday 9th October, 9.00am - 1pm

Quakers at Westminster, Friends Meeting House, London

A morning workshop with keynote speakers and group discussions to 
learn about and explore the environmental and social impacts of 
burning large-scale biomass and biofuels for power generation.

Please register your attendance before 1st October by sending an email 
marked for the attention of Emilia at biofuelwatch@ 
ymail.com<mailto:biofuelwatch@ ymail.com>.

Why attend?

Whilst government and industry herald biomass and biofuels as the 
low-carbon solution to our energy needs which can provide a stable 
source of baseline electricity, others warn that bioenergy can speed 
up global warming, cause deforestation, and lead to land-grabbing and 
human rights abuses in developing countries.

This summer, the Government announced it would continue to rapidly 
increase the amount of biomass being burned in power stations through 
heavy subsidies - but on the proviso that biomass and biofuels meet a 
set of 'sustainability' standards. This could see the UK burn up to 89 
million tonnes of woody biomass and biofuels each year. But what do 
these sustainability standards really mean? Can they offer a guarantee 
to really protect environmental and human rights norms? Will they 
guarantee real climate benefits from replacing fossil fuels with 
biomass?

Biofuelwatch presents its new report, which uncovers the true meaning 
of 'sustainable' bioenergy, and we hear from some of Europe's leading 
experts and campaigners, including:

- Prof Dr Helmut Haberl, climate science expert and former member of 
the European Environment Agency's Scientific Committee;

- Leo Broers, activist filmmaker, who spent time in Brazil and exposed 
the myths of FSC certification through the documentary 'Sustainable on 
Paper';

- Prof Patricia Howard, Rural Sociologist, Political Ecologist and 
Ethnobotanist and specialist in the interplay between biofuels and 
land rights.

If you'd like to come, please remember you must register your free 
attendance by sending a quick email with your name to biofuelwatch@ 
ymail.com<    mailto:  biofuelwatch@ ymail.com> before 1st October.

Ref:  http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/