Confederation of European Forest Owners

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) takes note of the Commission´s initiative to review the EU renewable energy rules to contribute to a higher climate ambition as part of the European Green Deal.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the EC initiative to possibly review the EU renewable energy rules in order to contribute to higher climate ambition as part of the European Green Deal and in support to the objectives of the EU Climate Law and 2030 Climate Target Plan.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) recognises the opportunity to contribute to the review and simplification of the climate delegated act of the EU taxonomy, and acknowledging the current lack of uptake among forest owners, CEPF would like to emphasise the benefits and practicality of building on existing tools and processes already in use.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges in this millennium and the paths towards reaching the carbon neutrality objective are therefore essential to organise. In this respect, the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the European Commission initiative to propose a European Climate law. The EU forest sector is one of the most essential actors to achieve this aim.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) thanks for the opportunity to give feedback on the proposal for a Regulation establishing a voluntary framework for the certification of carbon removals in the European Union.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the opportunity to express first views on the European Commission’s initiative to develop EU rules on certifying carbon removals. European forest owners offer key solutions for EU´s ambitious climate work in many essential ways: sustainably managed forests sequestrate carbon (sink), store carbon in forests and wood products (storage), and replace…

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Call for Evidence on Renewable Energy Framework for the decade ahead. 1. Bioenergy: a strategic pillar of the energy transition and an enabler of sustainable forest management Bioenergy is the largest non-fossil energy source in the EU, central to sectors difficult to electrify including heating and certain industrial…

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) acknowledges the opportunity to comment on the revised technical screening criteria of the EU taxonomy climate delegated act. In our feedback we will focus on the forest-related activities, particularly forest management. While the revision addresses some concerns, fundamental barriers remain.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) would like to share key considerations to be taken while preparing the announced proposal on legally binding EU nature restoration targets and its impact assessment.

European forest owners support the decarbonization of the European economy, aligning two major ambitions: the urgent reduction of our Unions dependency on fossil fuels and fossil-based materials, as well as the creation of an enabling EU policy framework to support the European bioeconomy for a sustainable economic transition and enhancing the EUs strategic autonomy.

CEPF welcomes the eighth environmental omnibus as a step to reduce compliance burdens while preserving environmental ambitions. European forest owners are natural allies in the green transition, but only if the regulatory framework supports rather than burdens them.

CEPF recognises the potential of nature credits in safeguarding biodiversity and creating new income opportunities for forest owners. CEPF emphasises the importance of a clear and implementable framework that is attractive to all market parties.

Amid the worst wildfire season ever recorded in the EU, it is undeniable that the impacts of climate change have started to unfold and continued investments in resilience prevention and preparedness are needed more than ever. Beyond wildfires, the rate, magnitude, frequency, and geographical location of climate-induced natural disasters happening in the EU is vastly expanding.

CEPF urges the Commission to carefully assess the implications of extending the do no significant harm (DNSH) principle to the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF) before proceeding. Our concerns are fundamental, not technical, and we trust the Commission will give them the weight they deserve.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the Commission’s recognition of the LULUCF sector’s contribution to mitigate climate change. However, CEPF has concerns on the new carbon removal target of 310 Mt of CO2e that may lead to reducing harvesting levels in forests which are currently sustainably managed.

The key elements for forests and forest-based sector to combat the climate change are Substitution, Sequestration and Storage. Forests are unique in doing all this at the same time. All sectors must carry their responsibility in the path towards climate neutrality by 2050.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) fully support the general principle of increasing resilience of European forests. However, the real added value of this proposal and the actual means it offers for resilient of EU forest are tenuous. Forest data collection, as in this proposal and its provisions, is not a tool for achieving forest resilience.

CEPF key considerations: •A stable and long-term framework Any successful EU Framework on Forest Monitoring must build upon evidence-based science, existing reporting schemes, in particular national forest inventories (NFI), and the experience of Forest Focus. For long-term sustainability, a stable system is required, including durable guarantees for resources needed.

CEPF welcomes the opportunity to contribute the ongoing call for evidence around the role of forestry and forests in the EU climate policy framework beyond 2030. National targets and flexibilities set strong links with the ongoing evaluation of the LULUCF Regulation: the main component of the EU climate policy architecture setting the role of forests and forestry in climate change mitigation on the road to achieve…

European forest owners welcome the Commissions initiative to evaluate the LULUCF Regulation. Forest owners who manage approximately 60% of EU forests play a central role in contributing to the EU-wide climate change mitigation efforts.

The general principles of the Aarhus Convention (AC) are important. However, CEPF has not found support in the AC’s background papers or any primary source of law for the interpretation persistently put forward by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) which implies a right for basically anyone or any group, that identifies themselves as being a stakeholder, to take part in administrative processes…

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) has welcomed the European Commission’s Communication aiming at addressing global deforestation published in July 2019. European Forest Owners support the EU in taking actions to tackle this issue.

Free access to environmental justice promoted by the Aarhus Convention, aimed to facilitate the defense of the environment by avoiding the unequal conditions in the access to justice between large industrial corporations and a citizen or an NGO with limited means.

The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomes the European Commission initiative to review the Agricultural State aid Guidelines and the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation (ABER). CEPF considers that consistency and continuity between the CAP Strategic Plans regulation and future State aids Guidelines are essential for the forest sector, which is known for long-term actions and over-generational…