No smoke without fire: How the Danish energy transition harms the forests of Estonia and Latvia

Denmark imports large quantities of wood from the forests of the Baltic countries, burns it and calls it sustainable energy. But the forests in Estonia and Latvia are suffering. Valuable habitats are disappearing, even in protected areas, and carbon sinks are becoming carbon sources. 

The new report ‘No smoke without fire’ from NOAH Friends of the Earth Denmark, Save Estonia's Forests and the Latvian Ornithological Society, shows that Denmark's sustainability law, which is supposed to protect climate and nature, is not working as intended. 

 ‘No smoke without fire’ shows that Denmark should phase out the use of wood for energy. As a first step, Denmark should stop importing wood from Estonia and Latvia because it contributes to the deteriorating condition of these countries' forests.