The National Press Foundation has extended the deadline for journalists interested in attending – in person or virtually – a training program on the biomass controversy, ahead of the Glasgow COP26 climate conference.
The organisers especially seek to reach journalists from South Korea, Japan and the EU, as these countries purchase wood pellets from the U.S.
The battle over biomass will feature at the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, as climate scientists and regulators grapple over whether biomass can truly be considered “carbon neutral.” The same debate is going on in the U.S. Congress, as some lawmakers seek to do away with official language that declares biomass to be carbon neutral.
To help environmental and political reporters understand the economic, climate and conservation issues posed by biomass, the National Press Foundation is offering an all-expenses-paid fellowship […]
While renewable energy conjures up images of wind turbines and solar panels, 50% of the globe’s renewable energy today comes from biomass — not solar, wind or geothermal power. And bioenergy accounts for 60% of Europe’s renewable energy consumption. […]
Fellows will hear from industry, government and environmental experts. Topics will include bioenergy standards, such those set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, the EU and the U.S.; “carbon ledgers” and the arcana of accounting for carbon emissions; how the Trump administration treated biomass in the nation’s sustainability goals and how the Biden administration will; how global regulators at COP26 conference will treat biomass; and the effects of regulatory changes on jobs, forestry and the economy of the U.S. Southern states.
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The all-expenses-paid fellowship covers airfare, ground transportation, hotel costs and most meals. NPF offers this professional development opportunity for journalists to enhance skills, increase knowledge and recharge their reporting on one of today’s most critical issues.
The in-person program includes on-the-ground reporting in North Carolina on Oct. 11-12; fellows may choose to attend those in person (if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19). After the on-the-ground reporting, seven Zoom sessions, spread out over the second half of October, will be held at different times to accommodate fellows in different time zones (including those from Europe and Asia).
More info and the details for application are available here: nationalpress.org/training/fellowship-exploring-biomass-and-climate-change
