Local environmentalists meet MEP over biofuels (Contributed)

REPRESENTATIVES of several Friends of the Earth local groups from Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire met South East MEP, James Elles, last week as part of the growing campaign against EU plans to increase the amount of biofuels in our petrol tanks.
During the meeting, campaigners Maureen Dyroff (Thame and Chinnor FOE) and Mike Chadwick (Wycombe FOE) handed over some of the many postcards collected
from local people calling on MEPs to vote against the proposed European biofuels target in October.

Mr Elles said he was aware of the concerns surrounding large-scale biofuels, and was increasingly worried about their effect on food prices and food security. He said he would certainly vote against a 10% binding target, but reserved judgement on whether a reduced or qualified target would be acceptable. He added that he would continue to develop his thinking of this complex subject, and so, would study the FOE briefing material thoroughly. He was open to further information on this complex set of issues and would welcome any FOE contributions to this end.

Background and Friends of the Earth position

A small amount (2.5%) of biofuels was introduced to UK petrol pumps this year. Already there is clear evidence that the race for biofuels is leading to rainforest destruction and rising food prices that are plunging millions of the world’s poorest people into starvation. What is more, when the whole production cycle is taken into account, many biofuels actually create more greenhouse gas emissions than they save.

Despite this, the EU has proposed a target that 10% of all transport fuel be sourced from biofuels by 2020. Friends of the Earth believe this proposal would have disastrous consequences, multiplying the damage already being caused. Instead they have set out how the necessary emissions cuts from the transport sector can be readily delivered by significant improvements to the average fuel efficiency of cars, and the provision of better public transport and safer routes for cycling and walking.

Local campaigner Maureen Dyroff said: ?We will continue to campaign on this important issue as public awareness of the futility of large scale production of biofuels increases.”