- Biofuels Threaten Forests, Communities, and Climate Goals, Activists Warn.
- Indigenous and Environmental Groups Call for Clean Shipping Alternatives.
- Activists Demand IMO Focus on Truly Clean Energy, Not Biofuels.
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prepares to finalize key measures for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in international shipping, environmental and Indigenous rights groups are raising concerns over the potential inclusion of biofuels. Biofuelwatch, the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), and AbibiNsroma Foundation are urging the IMO and its 176 Member States to exclude biofuels from its Global Fuel Standard and focus on cleaner alternatives and demand reduction strategies, reports Scoop.
Concerns Over Biofuels in IMO Climate Negotiations
“Biofuels have no place in any policy designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in shipping or in other forms of transport,” said Almuth Ernsting of Biofuelwatch. “Any new demand for biofuels, regardless of the feedstock, either directly or indirectly increases the demand for land. This can only come from pushing the agricultural frontier into forests and other natural ecosystems, or from reducing food production, thereby pushing up food prices. Existing biofuel demand is far beyond what can possibly be met from genuine wastes and residues.”
Biofuels: A Dangerous Distraction
Biofuels from crops like palm oil and soy are leading drivers of deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and human rights abuses. Large-scale biofuel production displaces Indigenous Peoples, destroys ecosystems, and imperils global food security. Second-generation biofuels produced from waste and residues are not scalable and are unable to satisfy the shipping industry’s needs.
“The development and production of bioenergy, especially biomass and biodiesel from palm oil, have already caused devastating environmental and social disasters in Indonesia,” said Safrudin Mahendra, Director of Yayasan Insan Hutan Indonesia (YIHUI). “Widespread deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the violation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights are direct consequences of biofuel expansion. Instead of exacerbating the climate crisis, the IMO must focus on sustainable energy solutions that respect both people and the planet.”
Biofuels Prolong the Fossil Fuel Era
Instead of hastening the move away from fossil fuels, biofuels extend the lifecycle of current fossil fuel infrastructure, including refineries. Refurbishing refineries for biofuel use calls for huge capital expenditures, taking away resources from truly clean energy options.
“The promotion of biofuels is a dangerous distraction from real climate action,” said Oli Munnion, Forests and Climate Change Campaign Coordinator at the Global Forest Coalition. “We cannot afford to waste time and resources on fuels that still contribute to emissions and environmental destruction. The IMO must instead prioritize wind-assisted propulsion, electrification, and other genuinely clean energy sources.”
Fraud in the Biofuel Industry
Evidence, such as that published by CE Delft, shows that the cost of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) has been higher than that of virgin palm oil for years, providing very powerful incentives to commit fraud. Enforcement actions have discovered significant amounts of palm oil arriving in the EU mislabeled as UCO or other residues, such as Palm Oil Mill Effluent.
“We strongly oppose the promotion of biofuels in international shipping because it will expand deforestation in Aceh province,” said Yusmadi Yusuf, Director of the Aceh Wetland Foundation and Coordinator of the Coalition Save Land and Forests of Aceh (KSLHA). “Palm oil biodiesel legitimizes and accelerates rainforest destruction in protected areas. More than 60,000 hectares of peat forest in Rawa Tripa, Aceh, have already been converted into oil palm plantations, and the deforestation is ongoing.”
A Call for Sustainable Solutions
Already, Conservation NGOs, Indigenous groups, and even shipping companies have alerted the IMO to the risks posed by biofuels. The activists contend that the inclusion of biofuels in the IMO’s decarbonization plan runs counter to its climate action and sustainability commitments.
“Biofuels are a step backwards, not forward,” said Kenneth Nana Amoateng from AbibiNsroma Foundation, Ghana. “The IMO must reject false solutions and commit to a future powered by genuinely clean energy.”
Call for Action in the Short Term
When the IMO convenes in the next few weeks, Biofuelwatch, the Global Forest Coalition, and AbibiNsroma Foundation urge Member States to act against biofuels. A genuinely sustainable shipping future hinges on an audacious approach—one that puts in the first place options that do not come at the expense of forests, communities, and global food security.
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Source: Scoop
