The consequences: biofuel politics
Since April 2008, all fuel sold in the UK must contain 2.5% biofuel under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The government plans to raise this amount to 5.75% by 2010, and the EU has set itself a target of 10% by 2020.
“Biofuels represent an exciting opportunity for British agriculture”, says acting CEO of the government's Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) Sue McDougall.
“The RFA is committed to helping the UK achieve its biofuels targets, and we do our best to ensure they are met sustainably.”
But now that concerns over food security and climate change are growing, the future for biofuels in Britain looks increasingly uncertain.
The government has ordered a review of its biofuel targets after the recent publication of the Gallagher report, and a growing number of British MPs and MPs are now supporting a moratorium.
But as the EU appears determined to continue with its biofuel targets, the UK government will find it difficult to stop biofuels altogether.
Editor of online biofuel magazine Biofuelreview Giles Clark says the government itself is responsible for its current dilemma, and claims it hasn’t thought things through properly.