The UK Government must stop sitting on the fence and take action to stop highly polluting tar sands from being imported into Europe, Friends of the Earth said today (Thursday 23 February 2012).

The call comes as a key EU vote on whether to label oil produced from tar sands as highly polluting ended in stalemate - with the UK Government abstaining. A vote in favour would effectively ban tar sands from the EU. The deadlock means the decision will now be referred to EU Ministers later this year.

Friends of the Earth's Energy Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

“Tar sands oil is one of the dirtiest transport fuels - EU ministers must vote to keep them out of Europe or our ability to tackle climate change will be undermined.

“The UK Government must stop sitting on the fence on this issue – failure to oppose tar sands will further tarnish its already battered green credentials.

“Motorists across Europe are already paying a heavy price for our failure to wean the motor industry off expensive oil - it’s time to fast-track the development of more efficient vehicles that burn less fuel and cleaner sources of power.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.    There were 54 votes for the proposal, 128 against and 128 abstentions.

2.    For further information on tar sands and their environmental impact, see the Friends of the Earth Europe briefing ‘Tar sands impacts on people, climate and environment’