Biofuels - the road to nowhere

18 March 2008

But the rush to biofuels has the potential to:

• Destroy forests and valuable habitats.
• Increase greenhouse gases.
• Threaten people's livelihoods and food supply.

Friends of the Earth believes that better solutions to climate change are available. Decision makers must pursue these now.

Threat to biodiversity

The expansion of crops like oil palm threatens the world's forests and other habitats.

This leads to a rapid loss of biodiversity and the release of greenhouse gases.

Carbon savings?

Supporters of biofuels claim that they produce little or no climate emissions.

But research has shown that some biofuels can contribute more to climate change than fossil fuels.

Communities at risk

Growing more crops for biofuels competes with food production for land and water.

This results in rising food prices around the world, especially in developing countries.

Conflict over land can also lead to social unrest and drives indigenous people from their homes.

Solutions

Friends of the Earth demands that the EU drops its biofuel targets.

Instead Europe must push real solutions to climate change. These are already available and they are less risky and more efficient.

More greenhouse gas cuts could be achieved at lower cost and risk by implementing a range of other policies

UK parliamentary report "Are biofuels sustainable?"

These solutions include more fuel efficient cars, better public transport and promoting greener driving.

A UK government study has found that these solutions could save 60% of transport emissions by 2030.

 Further reading

You can find all of our reports and briefings about biofuels here.