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Greens highlight biofuel danger |
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
Green MSP Patrick Harvie today lodged a motion calling on the Government to ensure that Scottish measures to comply with laws requiring 2.5 per cent of transport fuel to be made of biofeuls are consistent with genuine cuts in carbon emissions.
Harvie says that although well-intentioned, biofuels are often as carbon intensive as normal fuels, and the clearing of forest to plant them is causing major environmental and social distress, particularly in the developing world.
The UK Government’s Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, which imposes the 2.5 per cent obligation, comes into force this week.
Harvie said:
“Everyone knows why biofuels are so tempting to Ministers - they appear to allow business as usual for drivers while promising significant cuts in carbon emissions. However, when something looks too good to be true, it normally is. Scientists from the Chief Scientist down have confirmed that suspicion, pointing out that some of these biofuels may actually be even worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
“What's more, the latest reports demonstrate the true social and environmental costs of palm oil plantations in Indonesia and elsewhere, which are increasingly being planted for biofuels in the European market. Local people are being cleared from their land and vast areas of rainforest is being felled, and all in the name of saving the planet. This is a nonsense. Ministers and policy-makers must come to their senses on biofuels, and quickly.”
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