A coalition of 32 environmental organisations worldwide has sent a letter to the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, asking it to divest from Drax Plc, owner of the world’s largest wood-burning power station in the UK, and to clarify its position on biomass energy. BlackRock is Drax’s joint third largest shareholder, holding a 5 percent stake in the company.

While biomass energy is promoted by the industry and the UK government as a cleaner alternative to coal, in reality it contributes to climate change, forest destruction and pollution of communities both where the wood is sourced and where it is burned. Drax Power Station burns imported wood pellets made from over 14 million tonnes of trees every year, emitting more than 13 million tonnes of CO 2 in the process. Most of Drax’s pellets come from the Southeastern USA, and Drax’s pellet supplier Enviva regularly sources wood from the clearcutting of coastal hardwood forests which lie at the heart of a global biodiversity hotspot.

Biomass power relies heavily on public subsidies, and is therefore vulnerable to policy change. In 2018 Drax received a total of GBP 789.2 million in public money for burning biomass, without which the company would not have been able to stay afloat. These subsidies are due to run out in 2027, and UK and US NGOs are pushing for them to be ended sooner.

BlackRock has faced increasing criticism from the public because of its significant role in funding industries that cause climate change and forest destruction, including fossil fuel, timber and beef companies.

In January 2020, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote a letter to CEOs stating that “Companies, investors, and governments must prepare for a significant reallocation of capital” due to the climate crisis. BlackRock has also announced plans to remove companies that generate more than 25 percent of their revenue from thermal coal production from its actively managed portfolios. Today’s letter calls on BlackRock to follow these steps with a similar withdrawal from biomass investments.

Frances Howe from Biofuelwatch said: “It is encouraging to see BlackRock acknowledging climate change and the need to move away from coal; however, BlackRock must extend this small positive step to all investments that contribute to climate change or forest destruction, and divesting from Drax would be a great place to start.”

Rita Frost from the Dogwood Alliance said: “In the Southeastern US we witness the social and environmental impacts of the biomass industry first hand. If BlackRock is classifying this as sustainable investment, we urge them to think again.”

Simone Lovera from Global Forest Coalition said: “Biomass energy can be as bad for the climate as coal, as well as destroying forests and harming communities. If BlackRock wants a “significant reallocation of capital” to be part of the solution to climate change and forest destruction, it needs to divest from biomass and Drax”.

Marília Monteiro Silva from BankTrack added: “We encourage the divestment by BlackRock of coal companies contributing to forest destruction and climate change. Nonetheless, we believe it is an inconsistent step when the finance of biomass energy is in place. Moving from coal-fired power stations to wood-burning energy has long proved to be a failed solution for climate change. That is why we urge BlackRock’s divestment from biomass and Drax.”

The letter can be read in full HERE.