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Biofuels consultation - there are better ways to cut emissions
15 October 2008
Commenting on today's Government proposals to introduce biofuels into the UK fuel supply more slowly than originally planned, Friends of the Earth's biofuels campaigner, Kenneth Richter said:
"Second generation biofuels fuels remain an unproven pipe dream - Ministers should invest in measures that help Britons save on fuel and cut emissions now."
"Geoff Hoon must also push the EU to make car makers double the fuel efficiency of new cars - one of the biggest things we could do to cut emissions from road transport. This could save 521 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2020 in the EU alone."
"We need a new direction in transport based on smarter cars that burn less fuel, safer cycle routes and better public transport."
Friends of the Earth welcomes the Government's announcement that it will take a more cautious approach to biofuels. However, simply slowing the rate of increase in targets does not ensure that the millions of litres of biofuels currently being sold in the UK are from sustainable sources. The environmental group is calling on Ministers to suspend targets for increasing their use in road transport until the Government can guarantee that biofuels do not cause deforestation, food price rises and increased greenhouse gas emissions,
Notes:
1. The European parliament is currently deciding on new rules to make vehicle manufacturers improve fuel efficiency. If Euro MPs voted to double the miles per gallon on new cars it could save up to 95,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2020 - making it the biggest single thing we could do to reduce transport emissions. Source: Putting the brakes on climate change: CO2 limit values for cars, CPC Berlin, 2008
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Oct 2008
