More than 20 environmental organisations across Europe are calling on the EU to stop the environmental damage caused by EU biofuels targets with the help of Peter and Jane, characters in a specially-created animated short film. The film, distributed on social networks including YouTube and Facebook, highlights the problem of so-called indirect land use change (ILUC).
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NEW REPORT: Biofuels for Europe driving land grabbing in Africa
Land being used for biofuels in Bilene District, Mozambique (Credit: Daniel Ribeiro)
Brussels, Belgium and Benin City, Nigeria, August 30 – The amount of land being taken in Africa to meet Europe’s increasing demand for biofuels is underestimated and out of control, new investigations by Friends of the Earth reveal today. [1] Read more...
Biofuels: No sustainability in sight
Brussels, June 10 - Commenting on the European Commission's Communication on new sustainability criteria for biofuels, Adrian Bebb, food and agriculture campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe said: "Europe's policy on biofuels is inherently unsustainable. It is driving deforestation, damaging the environment, creating more greenhouse gas emissions, increasing hunger and encouraging rampant land-grabbing in the South. It will take a lot more than a few criteria and voluntary schemes to make them sustainable. The EU should abandon this folly and invest in genuine energy reductions in the transport sector." Read more...
Europe's biofuel policy unsustainable new research confirms
Brussels, 26 March – New research released by the European Commission confirms that Europe’s demand for biofuels is likely to contribute to climate change and harm the environment.Read more...
NEW REPORT: Europe's demand for palm oil driving deforestation and land-grabbing
Amsterdam/Brussels, 15 March 2010 - One of the leading suppliers of "green" palm oil to Europe is causing illegal encroachment upon Indonesian forest and peat land, according to a report published today by Friends of the Earth Europe. The report exposes the illegal activities of the Malaysian showcase company IOI Group and shows that the increasing demand in Europe for palm oil in food and biofuels is leading to deforestation, breaches of environmental law and land conflicts in Asia. Read more...
European Commission plans to sacrifice forests for biofuels
Brussels, 3 February 2010 - A leaked document from the European Commission reveals plans to allow the controversial use of palm oil as a biofuel by redefining palm plantations as 'forests'. The expansion of palm plantations is a major cause of tropical rainforest destruction.
The draft Commission guidance for EU countries also states that cutting down a rainforest and planting a palm plantation would be possible under EU laws aimed at stopping 'unsustainable' biofuels.
A hidden chain of destruction stretches from the factory farms in Europe to the forests of South America - where huge soy plantations, grown to feed chickens, cows and pigs in Europe, are wiping out wildlife and making climate change worse.
Agrofuels
: Fuelling or fooling Europe?
Photo: Deforestation
for Palm Oil
Friends of the Earth Europe believes that the current rush to develop
agrofuels is ill-conceived and will contribute to an already unsustainable
trade in plant-based oils whilst not solving the problems of climate
change or energy security.
Agrofuels (also called biofuels) are liquid fuels produced from
agricultural crops. They are promoted
as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our dependency
on conventional mineral oil. In reality agrofuels often deliver poor
greenhouse gas savings and some of them pose a threat to ecosystems
that act as vital carbon sinks. A more effective way to reduce greenhouse
gases and secure energy supply is to reduce demand,
improve efficiency and develop sustainable transport systems. Agrofuels
are no substitute for these priorities.
Photo:
Indonesian forest with Wilmar's land clearing on the background
hills. Click for free print quality photo, credit: Milieudefensie/FoE
Netherlands
Friends of the Earth Europe is calling for:
A moratorium on European financial subsidies and targets that
encourage the development and production of large-scale agrofuels.
The introduction of EU laws that lead to year-on-year reductions
of greenhouse gases. This will include giving higher priority to
reducing transport demand.
Europe-wide laws to force manufacturers to produce more efficient
vehicles, power stations etc.
Higher priority to producing fuels from waste products such as
from used cooking fat.
Initiatives that aim to reduce the disproportionate
environmental space the EU is using up at the expense of developing
countries.
