Oxfam calls for an end to EU incentives for plant-based biofuels

The continuous dependence on plant-based biofuels Governments’ failure to meet European greenhouse gas reduction targets is exacerbating global food insecurity and price volatility, says Oxfam, which is calling for an end to political incentives by the end of the decade.

Although the The EU launched a policy to promote the use of biofuels in 2003, Concerns about their impact on land use and food security have led to the proportion of biofuels from crops or “first generation” used in the transport sector be limited to one percentage point of the levels used in 2020 in a given Member State, with a maximum of 7%.

Biofuels of plant origin are the most widely used

However, the British organization Oxfam points out in a report published this week that, although the limit is maintained, thePlant-based biofuels still make up the majority (60% in 2021) of biofuels used in transport, and its volume will increase as governments strive to achieve a 29% green energy target for the sector by 2030.

The author of the report, Julie BosOxfam’s adviser on EU climate justice policies, believes that the Third revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (DER) last year was a missed opportunity to end the negative effects on food security, society and the environment of European policy-driven demand for biofuels.

EU steps up support for crop-derived biofuels

The latest update to the rules gives EU countries the option to unilaterally reduce the limit on crop-derived biofuels, but – perhaps unwilling to take a more difficult path to meeting the legally binding target, and as Oxfam says, under pressure from industry lobbyistsvery few have chosen to do so.

“The EU had the opportunity to change the rules on biofuels to phase out crop-derived biofuels,” Bos told Euronews. “Instead, They chose to double down on a false climate fix“.

Oxfam cites studies suggesting that biofuels have little or no net climate benefit when factors such as production, distribution and land use change (such as deforestation) are taken into account.

The option of reducing energy demand and increasing electric cars

He also argues that the demand for biofuels driven by political mandates exacerbates volatility in global food markets and contributed to the rise in the price of vegetable oil following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bos argues that since governments have until next year to transpose the latest iteration of the DER into national law, there remains a window of opportunity. opportunity to change course.

“They can phase out crop-derived biofuels, limit the use of advanced biofuels and unsustainable waste and focus on reducing energy demand, as well as investing in public transport and the electrification of cars,” Bos said.

“It is also time for strengthen sustainability criteria, “the protection of human rights and reporting,” he added, noting that new EU rules on sustainable supply chains would have little impact on the market because of exemptions for all but the largest companies.

Industry groups reject Oxfam report

Trade groups representing manufacturers of these fuels rejected the concerns raised in the Oxfam report. Xavier NoyonSecretary General of the European Biodiesel Council, said that biodiesel is a ““affordable and effective transition solution towards carbon-neutral transport” which accounts for 90% of the renewable energy currently used in the EU transport sector. He noted that overall use of renewable energy in transport currently stands at 9.6%, far from the 29% that is due to be reached by the end of the decade.

“How can we achieve this without biofuels, including sustainable biofuels based on RED-compliant crops?” asks Noyon. “Biofuels must be promoted if we are serious about our climate commitments”.

In addition, David CarpenterCEO of ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association, said: Banning crop-based biofuels would be a “disaster” for the EU’s efforts to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from transport.

In a progress report In its report on renewable energy in 2020, the European Commission noted that 7.4 million hectares of land were needed for biofuel crop production in the EU in 2018, an area larger than Ireland, just over half of which was outside the bloc.