Consequences Of Biofuel Imports

EDM number 2680 in 2005-06, proposed by Norman Baker on 09/10/2006.

That this House notes that major biofuel producers in the UK intend to exploit palm oil, sugar cane and soya from South-East Asia and South America, whose expansion is leading to the destruction of tropical forests and other highly prized ecosystems; further notes that this destruction is causing massive carbon emissions unaccounted for in many models of biofuel `emissions savings', as well as considerable human rights abuses, and grave threats to biodiversity; further notes that electricity generators are starting to burn palm oil under the Renewables Obligation; believes that it is unacceptable that imported biofuels with the aforementioned impacts are classed and supported as `renewable energy'; further notes in particular recent announcements by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments of further intended forest clearances for palm oil, which can undercut other biodiesel sources; further notes the huge carbon emissions, exceeding all savings of the Kyoto Protocol, from the peat and forest fires in South-East Asia linked to the spread of plantations; therefore calls on the Government to make no further announcements of Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation targets at the present time, and instead to work to end the incentive for deforestation and serious adverse consequences arising from the growing biofuel market; calls for international co-operation on this matter; and further calls on the European Commission not to enter into trade agreements with developing countries that would foster such destructive trade, as is currently feared.

This motion has been signed by a total of 39 MPs.