Stop the EU push for unsustainable biofuels

Concern over biofuels has grown due to increased press and public pressure upon MEPs.

The dangers posed by biofuels have been recognised by the European Parliament.

Its leading industry and environment committees voted for a review of the proposed target that 10% of fuel should come from biofuels by 2020.

But Friends of the Earth believes this is not enough and that biofuel targets must be scrapped.

And progress made by the Parliament must be protected from attempts to reverse it.

Lobbying the UK Government

The UK Houses of Parliament

The suggested compromise on biofuels must now be considered by the European Council of Ministers.

Already, some Council members are trying to weaken the improvements to the biofuel targets.

The UK Government is represented on the Council and we must ensure they:

Commit to a review
Re-assess the biofuel target in 2014.
Indirect impacts
Include the results of land use change
Support greener cars
Strong proposals to make cars smarter and use less fuel

The UK Government must act to prevent the negative impacts of unsustainable biofuels.

Please email the Department of Transport:

Stop the EU push for unsustainable biofuels

Dear Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP,

The European Parliament has now recognised that biofuels can have serious negative consequences. Its leading industry and environment committees voted for a review of the 10% target for renewable energy in transport. They suggest improved sustainability criteria, higher greenhouse gas (GHG) savings thresholds and the inclusion of impacts caused by indirect land use. These proposals do not go far enough and biofuel targets must be removed. But, at this stage in the negotiations, I am writing to urge the UK Government to support this shift in policy in the EU Council of Ministers. In particular I urge you in the negotiations to: - Commit to a serious review in 2014 that re-assesses the 2020 target. - Support sub-targets for other forms of alternative energy in transport, for example electric cars and hydrogen. - Reduce public subsidies for biofuels and promote more effective and sustainable forms of renewable energy. - Ensure that indirect impacts through changing land use are fully taken into account. - Support strong proposals for smarter cars using less fuel to reduce emissions from road transport I would appreciate your response detailing how the UK Government will take this forward.

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