Labour party policy paper on biofuels

Labour calls for a reassessment of biofuels policy

Labour Launched this policy paper on the 17th of July, with the following statement from their Energy spokesperson Liz McManus, TD:

IRELAND NEEDS A CLEARCUT POLICY ON BIOFUELS

The Labour Party is presenting this position paper on biofuels at this time because we are deeply concerned at the inability of the Government to form a coherent policy on the fuel/food debate that has been driven by rising food shortages, particularly in the poor regions of the world.

The recent report from a World Bank economist found that biofuels caused 75% of the rise in food prices from January 2002 to February 2008. This report and similar reports from the IMF can no longer be ignored by the Irish government. The dash to biofuels has proved premature and damaging. As we have seen internationally, biofuels are widely blamed for mass deforestation, global food prices hikes and water shortages.

We believe that Ireland urgently needs a clear cut policy on biofuels which includes:

1. Immediate reduction in our current targets of 5.75% by 2010 and 10% by 2020 (Climate Change Strategy) to 4% by 2015, as recommended by the European Parliament Environment Committee (7th July 2008).
2. At EU level, Ireland to urge for a complete review of EU targets on biofuels.
3. Guarantees of traceability and information as to the country of origin are essential to ensure biofuels are sustainable. Currently this information is not available.
4. An updating of the Climate Change Strategy

-to support sustainable transport options, including more public transport, electrification of railways and promotion of energy efficient and electric cars.
-to concentrate more on 2nd generation biofuels, which do not compete with food production.
-to increase renewable energy targets for electricity generation to 42%

I have raised this issue many times with the Minister for Energy, but so far Minister Ryan has refused to publish his promised Biofuels Obligation document, instead he has adopted a "wait and see" approach which is unacceptable. In a reply to a parliamentary question in the Dáil last week, he stated: "I wanted to hear from my ministerial colleagues and the rapporteur from the European Parliament in advance of setting out our consultation document."

If every country adopted his approach there would be no debate- only silence.
Meanwhile the poor of the world continue to suffer.

For the Labour Party that is insupportable.

The two major issues in relation to biofuels, the origin and source of biofuels and their contribution to CO ² emissions require in depth investigation.

The government are failing to provide truly sustainable approach to biofuels. The Minister for Energy has put energy security ahead of environmental sustainability and that is particularly disappointing when you consider the party he represents.

Labour is very conscious of social obligations as well as environmental obligations both nationally and internationally, that's why we are publishing this paper now in order to put pressure on the government to act.