- Environmental groups warn IMO against including biofuels in shipping’s future fuel mix, citing deforestation, land grabbing, and worsening climate change.
- Brazil was criticized for pushing biofuels, despite its soy and palm oil production causing ecological harm.
- Experts urge IMO to exclude biofuels from its Global Fuel Standard (GFS) and instead focus on genuine clean energy solutions.
Ahead of crucial International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations, Biofuelwatch and the Global Forest Coalition (GFC) have issued a strong warning against including biofuels in global shipping’s fuel mix, arguing they exacerbate deforestation, food insecurity, and climate change, reports GFC.
Environmental Groups Warn IMO: Biofuels Are a Climate Disaster
In an open letter signed by 69 organizations, the groups criticized the Brazilian government for pushing biofuels, aiming to expand its global biofuel market at the expense of forests and communities.
“If the IMO endorses biofuels as ‘low-carbon,’ it would drive rainforest destruction and land-grabbing while accelerating climate change,” said Almuth Ernsting of Biofuelwatch.
The Biofuel Problem: Land Grabs, Deforestation & Climate Impact
According to environmental experts, biofuels derived from crops like soy and palm oil are linked to:
- Mass deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
- Land grabbing, displacing Indigenous communities and small farmers.
- Food insecurity, as farmland shifts from food crops to fuel production.
- Water pollution and excessive pesticide use, impact human health.
Brazil, the world’s second-largest biofuel producer, has already suffered major environmental damage from soy and palm oil cultivation. By 2024, its soybean farming will cover an area the size of Sweden.
“The IMO must not trade one environmental disaster for another,” warned Souparna Lahiri, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate and Biodiversity at GFC.
IMO’s Fuel Policy & the Future of Global Shipping
In July 2023, the IMO committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with the Global Fuel Standard (GFS) designed to drive the transition to clean energy.
However, allowing biofuels under the GFS would undermine this goal, says GFC’s Oli Munnion: “The GFS must be built on strict life cycle assessments that exclude biofuels while prohttps://globalforestcoalition.org/groups-warn-imo-against-biofuel-disaster/tecting the environment and communities.”
The groups called on the IMO to focus on real solutions, such as:
- Fuel demand reduction & efficiency improvements.
- Wind-assisted propulsion & electrification.
- Advanced clean energy technologies.
Global Call to Reject Biofuels at the IMO’s April Meeting
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) meeting in April 2025 will be pivotal in determining whether shipping moves toward genuine clean energy or falls for biofuel greenwashing.
The letter’s signatories urged IMO Member States to reject biofuels and prioritize sustainable energy solutions that do not harm forests, climate, or communities.
“The shipping industry has an opportunity to lead with integrity,” said Almuth Ernsting.
“Real solutions exist that protect people and the planet. The IMO must choose these over false promises.”
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Source: GFC
