Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 51
51
Acknowledged
Collaborate Forestry Commission and Ofgem to develop sustainable bioenergy feedstock regulatory framework
Recommendation
We recommend that the Forestry Commission, as the Government’s experts on forestry, work with Ofgem to share best forestry practice. The objective of this collaboration ought to be to ensure that, should demand for domestic wood biomass in energy markets increase, the regulatory framework for bioenergy feedstocks derived from forestry crops and silvicultural activities is developed in line with principles of sustainable forestry. The collaboration ought to be undertaken in full recognition of the need to deliver on the UK’s commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework, and on the Government’s commitments and obligations under the Environment Act 2021. (Paragraph 232) Seeing the wood for the trees: the contribution of the forestry and timber sectors to biodiversity and net zero goals 83
Government Response Summary
The government clarifies that DESNZ is responsible for the regulatory framework, while Ofgem's role is administrative. They acknowledge the importance of collaboration and state DESNZ has already developed actions with the Forestry Commission for a consultation in 2024 to strengthen sustainability criteria.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
It is the responsibility of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to develop and update the necessary regulatory framework for biomass use to ensure biomass is sourced from sustainable sources and it aligns with our environmental and biodiversity policies and goals. Ofgem administers and supports the administration of some support schemes, which includes the monitoring of compliance with the requirements of the schemes. We agree that collaboration between government departments and sharing of best practices are important for designing better policies. Government has, in the recently published Biomass Strategy, presented a series of actions to strengthen sustainability criteria for biomass, on which it intends to publish a consultation in 2024. These actions were developed in collaboration with Forestry Commission and others. We continue to work closely with the Forestry Commission and others in the development of the consultation and the cross-sectoral common sustainability framework for biomass to ensure alignment with principles of sustainable forestry and domestic and global biodiversity policies and strategies.