Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 42
42
Acknowledged
Strengthened governance of bioenergy markets is crucial for sustainable biomass sourcing.
Conclusion
While imported woody biomass continues to be a major bioenergy feedstock, it is important that biomass used in UK power generation, whether from the UK or overseas, is genuinely sustainably sourced in a way which minimises the impact on forest biodiversity and carbon stocks. The CCC has continually stressed that strengthened governance of bioenergy markets is needed domestically and internationally to manage the risks to sustainable low-carbon production as the global biomass market scales up. (Paragraph 216) Seeing the wood for the trees: the contribution of the forestry and timber sectors to biodiversity and net zero goals 81
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of sustainable biomass by stating the Biomass Strategy, published on August 10th, includes actions to strengthen sustainability criteria and commits to a consultation on these in 2024.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Government published the Biomass Strategy on 10th August. Government manages potential risks associated with biomass use through strict biomass sustainability criteria, which is already in place in support schemes in the heat, transport, and power sectors. The strategy presented a series of actions government is minded to take to strengthen sustainability criteria for biomass, to further minimise risks associated with biomass use, regardless of its type and where it is sourced from. These actions cover a broad range of areas, including improvements to GHG emissions calculation methodologies to ensure consistency across sectors, strengthening protections for biodiversity and ecosystem services, and requiring 100% of woody biomass feedstocks to be proven sustainable, where not already mandatory. We intend to publish a consultation on these actions in 2024. Recognising that sustainable biomass is a limited resource with a wide variety of potential uses, the strategy presented a priority use assessment of biomass, to inform how biomass should be used across the economy over time to best support our net zero target.