Biofuels - A Reassessment
Issued : Thursday 17 July, 2008
The Labour Party is presenting this position paper on biofuels at this time because we are deeply concerned at the inability of the Government to form a coherent policy on the fuel/food debate that has been driven by rising food shortages, particularly in the poor regions of the world.
We recognize that the growth of biofuels alone has not created the crisis but it is clear that it has contributed greatly to the suffering being caused in the developing world by high food prices and scarcity.
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Summary
Reports vary from between 30% (IMF) and 75% (World Bank) of the increase of global food prices has been caused by biofuels production.
"This is taking the food of the poor to burn it as fuel for the cars of the rich."
Nobel Prize winner, chemist Richard R Ernst
There are also increased doubts being raised about the environmental benefits in the reduction of CO² emissions. Research at the University of Minnesota this year for example, found that growing biofuels on converted rainforests, grasslands or peat bogs created up to 420 times more CO² than it saved.
While targets have been set by the EU Commission of 10% biofuels by 2020, there is no agreement on the core criteria for the sustainability of biofuels at EU level.
Even basic definitions are creating difficulties. Despite mounting evidence that a new approach on biofuels is urgently needed our Government is unwilling to spell out where it stands in relation to the talks taking place at EU level. Under the Slovenian presidency a committee was established to coordinate a position of sustainability criteria for biofuels in February 2008 but so far nothing has been resolved.
In the meantime Minister Ryan has held off publishing his long promised document setting out a Biofuels Obligation. We simply do not know what his intentions are.
Minister Ryan has stated in the Dáil that: "I wanted to hear from my ministerial colleagues and the rapporteur from the European Parliament in advance of setting out our consultation document."
If every country adopted his approach there would be no debate - only silence.
Meanwhile the poor of the world continue to suffer.
For the Labour Party that is insupportable.
We do not underestimate the difficulties in addressing the biofuels controversy.
Biofuels are part of the solution in tackling Climate Change as well as in lessening Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels. Ireland needs to develop a biofuels strategy that is both ethical and effective. To do so requires change not just here in Ireland but at international level.
Liz McManus TD
Labour Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
