Global Groups Call for Japan to Protect Forests and People
Organizations fighting woody biomass around the world have written to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) requesting effective measures to protect natural forests and avoid harm to communities in the revised FIT guidelines on imported wood biomass.
Mighty Earth and environmental organizations worldwide are concerned about the impacts of Japan’s renewable energy feed-in-tariff (FIT) and feed-in-premium (FIP) subsidies for wood biomass on the health of forests and communities globally. We support the creation of guidance that clarifies and strengthens legality and sustainability requirements associated with wood biomass power generation and adds consistent enforcement for the requirements. The feed-in-tariff and feed-in-premium should become a forest-friendly renewable energy subsidy program where deforestation and forest degradation by renewable energy projects is not tolerated in or outside Japan.
In response to these concerns, we request that METI, which has jurisdiction over biomass energy policies, include the following provisions regarding imported wood biomass:
- Wood biomass fuel sourced directly or indirectly from natural forests (including but not limited to primary and old-growth forests), should not be eligible for subsidy under the FIT and FIP.
- Require legality in production from forest to mill to port.
- Require full traceability and public transparency to ensure compliance with legal and sustainability restrictions.
Read the full letter in English and Japanese below.
Read the letter to METI in English
Letter-to-METI_guidelines_Mighty-Earth_eng1
