Biofuels

Biofuels

Biofuels

On 26 February, the RSPB placed adverts in two national newspapers, The Times and The Guardian, bringing the issue of biofuels to the attention of Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and the wider public. The adverts invited people to visit our website and take part in an online action calling on Ruth Kelly to cancel the 15 April launch, and any introduction of higher biofuels targets, until it is proven that what we will be forced to buy can be produced sustainably and help to combat climate change.

After a phenomenal response rate, successfully demonstrating massive public concern, the action has now closed. It was open for just one week, but more than 14,000 people e-mailed Ruth Kelly - over 4,000 before lunch on the first day.

Originally promoted as a helpful response to climate change, some biofuels are turning out to be even more polluting than the fossil fuels they replace; and their production can devastate wildlife and habitats around the world. There is also evidence to suggest that taking land used for growing food and giving it over to growing biofuels reduces the amount of food produced and contributes to increasing prices.

Increasing UK and European demand looks set to make the situation worse. On 15 April, measures will be introduced requiring 2.5% of all transport fuel sold in the UK to be biofuel. You will have no choice but to buy it as it will already have been added to all fuel in UK garages. This is only the beginning. Government intends the proportion of biofuel to increase to 5% by 2010.

Can wildlife survive the biofuels surge?

The biofuels rush is contributing to the loss of natural habitats around the world. More...

Little bustard (male) in Spanish meadow

Can biofuels be sustainable?

We are calling on the UK Government to bring in strong greenhouse gas standards and sustainability standards to stop damage to wildlife before British consumers are forced to include any biofuels in their tanks. More...

Marbled white butterflies

Do biofuels really tackle climate change?

The full life cycle of biofuels, from growing and harvesting through processing and transport to the point of sale, all generates additional greenhouse gases. Once these emissions are figured in, the greenhouse gas balance sheet can look quite different. More...

Large field of wheat in Essex

What other green transport choices do we have?

Biofuels are supposed to help tackle climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from transport. But the greenhouse gas ‘balance sheet’ doesn’t add up for a lot of biofuels. More...

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A Cool Approach To Biofuels (533Kb)
The RSPB fully recognises the urgent need to tackle climate change, but we need solutions that work. The RSPB is advocating a cool, measured approach to biofuels.