Burning wood for heat emits more CO₂ than coal - BirdLife Internationalhttps://www.birdlife.org/news/2025/07/02/too-hot-to-handle-burning-wood-for-heat-emits-more-co%e2%82%82-than-coal/Climate impact: Burning biomass releases significant greenhouse gases, especially when the loss of forest carbon sinks is taken into account. This means that bioenergy, especially from forests, can be more polluting than the fossil fuels it’s meant to replace.
Resource limitation: There isn’t enough sustainable biomass to meet Europe’s growing demand. Bioenergy competes with land needed for food, materials like wood products, and biodiversity.
Economic risks: As demand rises but supply stays limited, energy prices may increase, threatening affordability for households and stability for industries.
Health impacts: Burning wood and other biomass produces fine particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and associated health risks.
Reduced ecosystem services: Harvesting biomass reduces biodiversity and the ability of natural ecosystems to provide essential services like clean water, fertile soil, and climate regulation.