New biofuels legislation falls well short of the mark

6 January 2009

Less than a week into the year and we were hoping to start 2009 with some good news.

Rich countries announcing a complete write-off of poor country debt. That'd have done nicely. A doubling of aid money to help pay for doctors and nurses in the countries where they're needed most. Yep, that would have been well received too.

Unfortunately though we've had no such luck. Quite the opposite in fact.

At the end of last month, the European Union voted on legislation that will decide how member states use biofuels for the next decade.

The EU had a choice: introduce rigorous standards and safeguards; or do nothing, while biofuel production continues to negatively impact on poor people's lives.

Throughout last year, Oxfam supporters relentlessly badgered European politicians for the former. Emails were sent, letters written, meetings had and giant maize costumes worn.

Sadly, when the EU announced its final decision a few weeks ago, much of what we'd hoped for was ignored.

The EU chose to push ahead with laws that will mean by 2020, every time you visit the petrol station to fill up with petrol or diesel, the fuel you'll be using will contain at least 10 per cent biofuel.

It almost defies belief, especially considering that at one point the EU had signalled a change in policy towards what we were calling for. In the end it came down to the influence of powerful business lobbies, the interests of member states and political trade-offs between European decision-makers.

There were some small concessions that make the outcome a slightly less bitter pill to swallow. The greenhouse gas savings demanded of biofuels are higher than originally proposed. There is a review clause in the legislation, meaning an opportunity for a change in policy in a few years' time. And the EU has acknowledged that the impact of changes in land use due to the expansion of biofuel production is an issue. All this comes within a deal on green energy that will increase the use of all renewable energy - which despite the biofuels, is good news.

As we push on through the year, we'll be keeping an eye on companies that produce biofuels - making an example of those that behave badly - and ensuring that fuel production is as 'sustainable' as the EU claims it will be.

Anyway, it somehow seems wrong to leave the first blog for this year on a low. So here's a link to a video (complete with soundtrack kindly supplied by The Zutons) of some of the good stuff you helped achieve in 2008. Enjoy.

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