4/7/08
European biofuel targets are a “crazy idea”
This is the view of MEP for the South East Graham Booth, who confirmed that he will be voting against plans for 10% of all petrol and diesel to be made up of biofuel.
The EU hopes this will encourage large-scale land conversion to agrofuel across the world, as well as investment in refineries and infrastructure, including roads, waterways and ports.
But there have been concerns about food shortages as much of the land turned over to grow biofuels previously produced food for people and animals.
Biofuels have been seen as method of reducing the carbon footprint of our travel without the need for people to alter their lifestyles.
But critics say they are not the answer and are in fact making the situation worse. In a statement Biofuel Watch argued: “The 'sustainability criteria' put forward by the European Commission are completely inadequate. They include no social criteria - i.e. they allow even agrofuels linked to human rights abuses to be classed as 'sustainable'."
After attending the recent UN conference on Trade and Development Labour MEP Glyn Ford outline his view in a report which describes the impending food shortages as: “A new crisis which threatens to kill more in a day than have died from terrorism in the six years since 9/11." He argues the shortages are down to a failure to invest in agriculture in Africa and increases in droughts, floods and temperature increases caused by climate change compounded by switching crops from food to fuel.
Links
For more on biofuels and their impact on the UK click here
To find out more about the work of Biofuel Watch click here
To read the EU's renewable enrgy directive click here