Over 50 international environmental NGOs have issued a joint response to the Finnish and Swedish Prime Ministers’ call to weaken the EU’s Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation. The NGOs warn that such a move would undermine EU climate targets and prioritise short-term industrial interests over long-term ecological and economic resilience.

The statement emphasises that sustainable forestry must balance climate, biodiversity, and social benefits, not just timber production. It highlights that Nordic forestry practices—dominated by clear-cutting and heavy biomass use—are depleting carbon sinks, damaging ecosystems, and employing fewer people despite increased harvesting.

Scientific evidence cited by the NGOs contradicts the Prime Ministers’ claims, showing that protecting and restoring forest carbon stocks brings greater climate benefits than substituting fossil fuels with bioenergy. The letter urges the European Commission to reject “flexibilities” that excuse missed climate targets and instead promote a transition to diverse, resilient, and biodiverse forests.

The signatories call for ending subsidies that drive destructive logging, upholding science-based policy, and ensuring that EU climate action reflects the will of citizens who strongly support ambitious forest protection and climate measures.

• Letter: International NGOs Respond to Finnish and Swedish Prime Ministers on LULUCF (pdf)