We urgently need to increase renewable energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
But EU bioenergy policies - which are costing us billions of euros per year - are doing more harm than good. They are leading to more and more trees and crops being burned for energy in the name of climate action, despite the fact that this could increase emissions compared to fossil fuels and have serious impacts on food security, air pollution, and nature.
We need to put a stop to this before it's too late, and the EU has a responsibility to undo the damage it's done.
As Civil Society Organisations working for a safe climate, a healthy environment and flourishing human societies we call on the new European Commission in this joint statement to take immediate action to reform the EU's damaging bioenergy policies.
We must move beyond bioenergy.
This statement has been signed by 82 civil society organisations.