This morning, Drax (LSE: DRX), one of the largest utilities in the UK, announced that it was pulling out of a plan to build a new coal burning power plant that would co-fire wood pellets and utilize untested Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. The conservation community welcomed the news that they hoped would mean the end of the controversial White Rose Project.
As part of “GE Trees Fall,” activists from across the United States are converging on two key regions involved in the genetic engineering of trees this fall, the US Southeast and the Pacific Northwest. On September 24th, activists are gathering near Asheville, NC for a Genetically Engineered Trees (GE trees) Action Training Camp, organized by Global Justice Ecology Project, and including the participation of Indigenous Environmental Network and Dogwood Alliance
The issue of forest carbon in corporate supply chains has grown. Food giant General Mills has made a public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their entire supply chain by 28%. Because the announcement is from such a large company and for such a significant reduction, the corporate world is on notice.
Dogwood Alliance is pleased to announce Rita Frost as our new Campaign Organizer! Rita believes in getting our country to a place where we respect all natural areas, like we respect national parks and that working with forest conservation is one of the frontline fights that we can do to face not only the problems of climate change, but also to get wilderness back into the ethos of American citizens.
The dirty biomass industry is not the future for our Southern communities or forests. We need long-term solutions that value the health and prosperity of people and the environment. And it is our right to demand this from policymakers and industry leaders. With organizing and action, we can pave the way for a future that puts the needs of the people before corporate profit, and values our forests for the myriad of life-supporting services they provide just by standing. Our Southern communities and forests are not resources that can be taken advantage of for the personal gain of greedy industries. They are vital components of a vibrant global community and ecosystem, and we must take action to make sure they continue to be so.
