RTFO Stakeholder Newsletter - Environmental Audit Committee report
Dear stakeholder
Environmental Audit Committee report
The EAC has today (21 January) published its report into the sustainability of biofuels. Copies of the report are available via www.parliament.uk/eacom.
The Government will be responding to the report's recommendations in due course. In the meantime, the DfT press office has made the following comment.
"The Committee's report says that biofuels can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport, but that there are risks associated with them. The Government agrees. We have made clear that we will not support any increase in current biofuel targets until we are convinced that the biofuels can be delivered sustainably.
The Government is determined to support only those biofuels which deliver genuine environmental benefits. Experts generally agree that the majority of biofuels deliver greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil fuels. Our policies are based on the best available scientific evidence. The UK's biofuels obligation includes a world-leading reporting mechanism to give suppliers a strong incentive to source the most sustainable biofuels, paving the way for mandatory standards as soon as possible.
We agree that biofuels are not a 'silver bullet' - they are part of a package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of road transport, backed up by record investment in public transport.
We will respond to the report in more detail in due course"
Best wishes,
Rupert Furness
RTFO Programme Director
