South Korea to shrink biomass energy subsidies after criticism over link to deforestation

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🗞️ Driving the news: South Korea announced plans to reduce subsidies for biomass energy following criticism over its links to deforestation and carbon emissions
• The government will phase out subsidies for state-owned co-fired biomass plants by 2025 and adjust support for private and dedicated biomass plants over the next decade
• Environmental activists, while welcoming the move, highlighted loopholes and the slow pace of implementation

🔭 The context: Biomass, primarily from imported wood pellets, constitutes South Korea's second-largest renewable energy source, with imports accounting for 82% of demand in 2023
• Subsidies have supported biomass power for over a decade, but its expansion has drawn scrutiny for exacerbating deforestation in countries like Indonesia and undermining climate goals
• South Korea is the third-largest importer of biomass fuels globally, after the UK and Japan

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Biomass energy, often framed as renewable, has been criticized for its high carbon emissions and reliance on deforestation, which harms biodiversity and accelerates climate change
• South Korea’s policy shift could influence global debates on the sustainability of biomass as a green energy source
• The move underscores the urgency of transitioning directly to truly clean energy solutions

⏭️ What's next: The South Korean government will phase out support for new biomass plants while slowly reducing subsidies for existing ones
• Environmentalists continue to push for stronger measures, including eliminating support for domestic biomass production
• Internationally, the decision may inspire other nations to reassess biomass’s role in their energy transitions

💬 One quote: “Large-scale biomass power has no place in a renewable energy future,” - Hansae Song, program lead at Solutions for Our Climate

📈 One stat: In 2023, 82% of South Korea’s biomass demand was met through imports, primarily from deforestation-prone regions

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