Author: jonas

European NGOs Discuss the Future of the Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

In a session at the Forest Movement Europe (FME) meeting in Finland from 4–7 May 2026, around 40 campaigners from forest NGOs across Europe continued their exchange on the potential impacts of, and possible entry points for NGO engagement within, the forthcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Building on discussions from an online workshop in April, and with the aim of bridging the gap between abstract bioeconomy strategies and concrete political and economic realities, participants focused on identifying constructive approaches to engaging in the bioeconomy debate from a forest protection perspective. Working in smaller groups, they explored possible sustainable sources of income that could work at scale for people living in forested areas. The discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of developing rural economic models that are ecologically sustainable and socially viable. In the second part of the session, several speakers reflected on forest-related strategies within a bioeconomy that could support more sustainable wood use and forest management. Karin Nutti Pilflykt from the Saami Council spoke about Saami traditions, noting that the principle is to …

Biomass Suppliers or Living Forests? Rethinking the Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

On 21 April 2026, more than 50 NGO policy experts and campaigners from across Europe came together in an online workshop to discuss the opportunities and risks arising from the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The discussions focused particularly on forests and wood-based industries. The workshop opened with a critical reflection on the concept of the bioeconomy itself. Dr. Joachim Spangenberg (Friends of the Earth Germany) stressed that, despite its significant share of employment, the bioeconomy remains one of the less innovative and productive sectors of the EU economy. He also questioned whether fossil-based materials and energy systems could realistically be replaced on a large scale by biomass-based alternatives without exceeding ecological limits. Sydney Vennin from Fern then presented the latest developments surrounding the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Many participants expressed concern that the updated strategy largely reinforces existing structures: it promotes increased investment and deregulation to expand biomass production without addressing the need to reduce overall resource consumption. At the same time, participants also identified opportunities for positive change, including phasing out subsidies for forest bioenergy, …

EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Growth First, Planet Second?

Published by jonas

Now it is finally out! Commissioner Jessika Roswall did not miss the chance to personally present the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy last week at a press conference. It has become the expected document – steeped in the spirit of economic growth, so-called innovations of all kinds, and the dismantling of supposedly hindering regulations, but also with a touch of sustainability and planetary boundaries. Or, to quote the Commission: “Nature itself can become part of Europe’s competitiveness.” The publication of the strategy update represents the end of a process of discussions with NGO colleagues and exchange with staff from the Commission and Parliament. Above all, we contributed to the debate in cooperation with 60 fellow civil society organisations and developed frameworks for a responsible bioeconomy. Moments like this are a good opportunity to draw conclusions about whether one’s own commitment to the process ultimately justifies the outcome. More specifically, it can be checked whether any of our jointly formulated demands have been adequately addressed in the final version of the strategy. Concerning our first point – …

Building a Better Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

Reframing the EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Towards an Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Future At the end of 2025, the European Union will present its revised Bioeconomy Strategy – a step with far-reaching implications for rural communities, businesses, climate action, and forests both in Europe and globally. While a public consultation on the topic is currently underway, denkhausbremen and its project partner Fern organized the high-level event “Building a Better Bioeconomy” at the European Parliament on June 12, 2025, as part of a project funded by the European Environment Initiative (EURENI). The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA) and Michal Wiezik (Renew), with support from BirdLife Europe, Oxfam, and the European Environmental Bureau. The gathering brought together over 50 participants from rural areas, the business sector, forestry, and civil society from across Europe, alongside representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament. The objective: to ensure that the new strategy paves the way for an ecologically and socially sustainable bioeconomy. The discussions quickly made one thing clear: the amount of …

CSOs call for a future-proof EU Bioeconomy Strategy

Published by jonas

Bremen, Brussels – June 12, 2025 Download position paper as PDF here! In a position paper published today, 60 civil society organizations call for a fundamental reorientation of the EU bioeconomy strategy: The bioeconomy of the future must be ecologically sustainable and socially just. The organizations criticize the fact that the current bioeconomy policy perpetuates an outdated economic model based on overuse and waste (for example through energy production from biomass). Real change requires a consistent break with this logic. Large-scale biomass imports from the global South are not a responsible option. Residual and waste materials are also far from being able to cover the raw material requirements of future economic models. A sustainable bioeconomy must therefore above all drastically reduce the overall consumption of resources. The statement was initiated by denkhausbremen, Oxfam, Fern, EPN, Ecodes and many other organizations committed to a responsible bioeconomy in Europe. CSOs call for a future-proof EU Bioeconomy Strategy In light of the revision of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, civil society organizations are calling for a future bioeconomy that …

Harald Ginzky: The carbon footprint increases with the size of one’s wallet.

Published by jonas

Dr. Harald Ginzky works as an environmental lawyer and transformation scientist for the German Environment Agency, now for more than 20 years, and is in charge of inter alia negotiating international environmental treaties as member of German delegations. In 2019, he co-founded the working group (“Arbeitskreis”) of the SPD Bremen City – Climate Change, Environmental Protection and Sustainable Economy, which he has since led together with Bianca Wenke. In an interview with denkhausbremen – which he expressly did not conduct for the German Environment Agency, but as spokesman for the aforementioned AK – he discusses the challenges for the SPD with regard to global climate justice. (Photo: Ev. Academy Loccum) denkhausbremen: What does climate justice mean to you? What comes to your mind spontaneously? Harald Ginzky: We can only achieve justice if we understand what the real challenge of climate policy is. It is often pretended that the core objective of climate policy is just to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In my opinion, this is fundamentally wrong and in itself leads to an elitist and unjust approach. At …

Sunny Omwenyeke: Western countries must take responsibility!

Published by jonas

Dr. Sunny Omwenyeke in conversation with denkhausbremen about climate change as a reason for flight, his work to empower refugees to fight for their rights and the responsibility of Western countries to work on their colonial history and the damage they have created across Africa. Sunny Omwenyeke is a long-term activist of the refugee movement in Germany and founder of the Bremen Solidarity Center (BreSoC) e.V. (Foto: Ana Rodríguez). denkhausbremen: What does climate justice mean to you? Sunny Omwenyeke: To me, climate justice would be a situation where countries that are most responsible for all the mess in our climate take more responsibility, where they are held accountable. Those are essentially the Western countries that have such a long record of exploiting and devastating many other countries – simply because they want to maintain their standard of living here. These countries are inconsiderate and greedy. If the Global North is serious about addressing climate justice, for me that would mean to pay something back to other countries they have destroyed. Even as we speak, this …

Isadora Cardoso: Climate justice means a good life for everyone

Published by jonas

Isadora Cardoso is a queer feminist climate activist and researcher from Brazil, who has been working on gender and climate justice for many years. After being with the Research Institute for Sustainability in Potsdam, Isadora is currently working as a PhD Fellow at the Freie Universität Berlin. The conversation with denkhausbremen revolves around false narratives around gender and climate issues as well as intersectional perspectives on climate justice (Foto: Ana Rodríguez). denkhausbremen: What comes to your mind when you think of climate justice? Isadora Cardoso: The first thing I can think of, is that climate justice is about a good life for everyone, especially for people that are most affected by injustices in general. Where even the most marginalized people in our societies from all corners of the world can live in dignity and have access to a good environment, housing and so on. These are basic rights, every human deserves them. The climate crisis aggravates the structural injustices that already exist today. This is why for me climate justice involves every fight for justice. …