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Biofuels make the planet boil

Last modified: 26 February 2008

Large field of wheat in Essex
Intensive farming - field of wheat in Essex - Andy Hay (RSPB)

Full page adverts, taken by the RSPB in The Times and Guardian today (February 26) spell out to the government just how destructive the world’s biofuels’ policies have become.

They warn of the loss of wildlife habitats to produce fuels whose manufacture may be hastening climate change. They urge the government to shelve legislation forcing oil companies to sell more biofuel, until there is proof that this new fuel is truly green.

Vast areas of South America are being razed and covered in energy crops to sate the demand for biofuels from Europe and the US.

Food shortages are increasing in Africa where the best farmland is being switched from food to grow corn and sugar cane for ethanol and biodiesel.

Rainforest is being felled rapidly in Indonesia and Malaysia to clear land for palm and soya, for biofuel as well as food and other products.

In Britain and other parts of Europe, wildlife-rich set-aside has been scrapped to free up land for energy and food crops, with no measures in place to replicate its environmental benefits.

Yet UK legislation is about to make things worse. And Europe’s energy ministers will this week consider doubling the amount of biofuel sold across the EU.

Under the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), biofuels must make up at least 2.5 per cent of transport fuel from April 2008. By 2010, this must rise to 5 per cent costing taxpayers up to £500 million in subsidies.

But strict rules on how and where this biofuel is produced will not be in place for three years. And there will be no proof that biofuels emit fewer greenhouse gases than their fossil fuel equivalents until 2010. The production of some biofuels already emits more.

The RSPB wants the RTFO postponed until these crucial checks are in place.

Graham Wynne, Chief Executive of the RSPB, said: 'The government is forcing oil companies to sell fuels that could be making climate change worse and making us buy fuel that could be responsible for the loss of wildlife across the world.

'This legislation should be delayed until it includes greenhouse gas measures that show the emissions savings of every biofuel are at least 60 per cent above their fossil fuel equivalent. That is what the government must do if it is serious about tackling climate change.'