LowCVP provides evidence to EAC Inquiry

Wed 21 November 2007 View all news

The LowCVP has provided verbal evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee's current inquiry into the sustainability of biofuels. The LowCVP Director, Greg Archer, and Programme Manager, Jessica Chalmers, provided evidence to the cross-party committee of MPs on 20 November.

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) announced its inquiry into biofuels in July 2007 and is intended to examine the role that they might play in addressing the key issues of fuel security and climate change. This inquiry follows the publication of the United Nations report Sustainable Bioenergy: A Framework for Decision Makers, which stressed the need for the development of a biofuel strategy to minimise the potential for negative environmental and social impacts.

The EAC inquiry aims to:

  • explore the wider economic, social and environmental impacts of biofuels;
  • examine the role biofuels might play in improving fuel security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
  • review the policy arrangements for biofuels; and
  • explore whether safeguards are in place in order to minimise negative social and environmental impacts.

During questioning by the EAC, the LowCVP representatives were invited to cover a wide range of issues relating to the sustainability of biofuels (see link). One area of particular concent to the Committee was the indirect impact of biofuels production in terms of land use changes. The LowCVP Director responded that the quantity of biofuels currently being produced is of quite limited significance compared with the amount of land cultivated for food and other uses. Mr Archer also explained that the carbon assurance and sustainability reporting scheme that have been developed under the UK's RTFO is world-leading and that it is being used as a model for developments elsewhere.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the transport minister, has also given evidence to the EAC on the same issue, alongside officials from the Department for Transport. Mr Fitzpatrick said that the Government believes that biofuels have significant potential to address the challenge of climate change. He accepted that there were 'good and bad' biofuels, but stressed that all would be done to ensure that the Government supported the best available supplies.  He added that the Government would not support an increase in the biofuel targets without further assurances over sustainability. He described the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation as a transparent and robust measure that would ensure the sustainable development of biofuels.

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