While Friends of the Earth would welcome the development of a biofuel that is sustainable and energy efficient, large scale agro-fuels that are currently in use have proven to be ecologically unsustainable and inefficient -- these include biofuels such as corn, sugar and palm oil ethanol.
This drive to substitute fossil fuels with biofuels is driven in large part by an assumption that bio-based energy is sustainable for the planet. However, biofuels can create significant environmental harm. Large-scale agricultural production of corn and other crops used for biofuels often involves massive fertilizer inputs, use of large quantities of water, and soil erosion. Also, rather than helping prevent global warming, biofuels can actually cause global warming as a result of deforestation and the destruction of other natural ecosystems.
Conservation, through both increased vehicle efficiency, reduced vehicle miles traveled and "greening" the grid, must be the primary focus of global warming solutions for transportation. Although we do support the sustainable use of waste biomass for transportation energy, utilizing waste biomass alone to feed our transportation industry is not sufficient. We also strongly support the rapid electrification of our transportation sector for its substantial increases in efficiency and as a viable alternative fuel.
Friends of the Earth has been working with a small coalition of fellow environmental organizations to change the direction that biofuels policy is going. Our biofuels policy platform provides specific policy recommendations that would incentivise only biofuels that have a proven environmental benefit. Read More
The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the Energy Independence Security Act of 2007 mandates a massive, fivefold increase of biofuels use and is a major driver of biofuels production in the United States and abroad. Friends of the Earth worked to put global warming emission reductions and forest protections in to the bill before it was passed, and we continue to work to assure that the environmental safeguards are as strong as possible. Read More
Biofuels have recieve enormous subsidies in the form of tax credits for over 30 years. These tax credits do nothing to enhance the sustainability of biofuels and even subsidize the dirtiest of biofuels, such as corn ethanol. Friends of the Earth is working to reform these tax credits so that taxpayer dollars only support only the most sustainable biofuels. Read More
Friends of the Earth U.S. works in coalition with our sister organizations around the world to prevent adverse impacts from biofuels. This section highlights the different groups and initiatives on biofuels from Friends of the Earth International and our international partners. Read More
