Biofuels could add £2bn to the price of petrol2 February 2012
New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth and ActionAid shows that UK motorists could be paying £2bn extra at the pump in 2020 because of increasing use of biofuel in petrol and diesel.
The Government is considering whether to increase the amount of biofuels blended into petrol and diesel to 10% by 2020 to meet an EU target.
But scientific research shows biofuels produced from crops are not as green as they seem. Current plans could create 13 million tonnes of extra carbon emissions every year.
The Government keeps talking about bringing down costs but here we are paying billions for biofuels that do nothing to boost our economy and nothing to tackle climate change.
Kenneth Richter, Biofuels Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
The poor will suffer
Biofuel production is competing with food production and pushing up food prices around the world.
In poorer countries, international biofuel companies have already claimed an area of land bigger than the whole of the British Isles. Deprived of valuable farm land and unable to afford food, local communities are left hungry.
Greener, cheaper solutions
Friends of the Earth is calling on the UK Government to drop its biofuel target and invest in real transport solutions that reduce fuel use, cut carbon and save money, such as:
- improving public transport like bus services
- promoting cleaner cars
- making cycling and walking safer for shorter journeys
Act now
Please ask your MP to speak out against biofuels - by sending our letter.
Just enter your name and contact details. Then hit send. Thank you.
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