Biofuel sustainability
A priority for the RFA is to ensure that the RTFO encourages the supply of sustainable, renewable transport fuels. Appropriate biofuels produced with regard to environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions have the potential to be a valuable tool against climate change. There are also however legitimate concerns that biofuels grown without a focus on sustainability risk accelerating local environmental degradation and failing to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. They could potentially also cause or exacerbate social problems, particularly in the developing world.
One of the risks is that growing demand for biofuels will increase pressure on land use. This pressure could potentially drive land use change which can release greenhouse gases, for instance through deforestation. Another is that demand for biofuels from food crops will cause food prices to rise, putting pressure on the ability of poor people to afford proper nutrition. Maintaining public confidence in biofuels, and achieving genuine greenhouse gas emissions savings, requires Government and the biofuels industry to find effective ways to manage the potential negative impacts. The RFA will have a key role in encouraging fuel suppliers to sustainably source biofuels supplied under the RTFO, and in advising the Government about the wider environmental and social implications of the biofuels market.
To encourage suppliers to source sustainable biofuels, the RFA will require biofuel suppliers to submit reports on both the net greenhouse gas emissions reductions provided by, and the sustainability of, the biofuels they supply, when applying for Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs). These reports will address the direct impacts arising from biofuel cultivation that are potentially within the influence of companies sourcing or producing biofuels though effective supply chain management.
The RFA will separately monitor the potential indirect impacts of biofuel production such as indirect land-use change or changes to food and other commodity prices that are beyond the control of individual suppliers. It will report in these as part of its annual report to Parliament. The RFA's Carbon and Sustainability team is led by Aaron Berry.
Further information on the effects of biofuels can be obtained in the About Biofuels section.