The EU Biofuel Policy and Palm Oil: Cutting subsidies or cutting rainforest?
The report seeks to address one of the blind spots in biofuel policy making, namely the increased use of palm oil in biodiesel produced and consumed in the European Union.
According to Oil World data, the EU biofuels industry has increased its use of palm oil as biodiesel feedstock by 365 per cent from 2006 to 2012, from 0.4 to 1.9 million tonnes per year. The additional demand can be linked primarily to the growth in biodiesel production stimulated by government policies during the same period. If the EU does not cut its current subsidies to biodiesel, it may, in an indirect way, lead to the cutting down of more rainforests, the conversion of more forest and peat land for palm oil plantations, and the emission of more carbon into the atmosphere.
Participating experts
You might also be interested in
Assessment of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Canada
This report evaluates a potential fossil fuel subsidy provided to the Canadian oil industry through the Government of Canada's expansion and continued operation of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMP) using the government's new fossil fuel subsidies assessment framework as the basis for analysis.
Leaders’ Club Cuts Fossil Fuel Finance but Falls Short on Clean Energy Support
Signatories of the Clean Energy Transition Partnership have cut their international public finance for fossil fuels dramatically since signing the agreement but are underdelivering on the clean finance pledge.
Revitalizing International Fossil Fuel Subsidy Phase-Out Commitments Through Roadmaps, Closing Loopholes, and Support
A new approach outlines how countries can strengthen fossil fuel subsidy reform commitments with time-bound roadmaps, closing loopholes, and support for lower-income countries.
How Fossil Fuels Drive Inflation and Make Life Less Affordable for Canadians
New report takes closer look at how Canada’s dependence on fossil fuels impacts energy costs and prices of essentials such as transportation, home heating, and housing.