ADL, 2008
What future for biofuels?
Biofuels have gone from being the great hope for clean transport fuels of the future to being in the dock accused of causing deforestation and increases in food prices for the world’s poorest people. Against this context, the UK Gallagher Review of the indirect effects of biofuels production has delivered a sober and timely assessment of the industry and its future. The Review examines the difficulties of assessing the social and environmental impact of biofuels, and sensibly recommends a cautious scaling back of future biofuels targets. This Review could lead to a fundamental change in the biofuels industry through changes in the way it is regulated, not just in the UK but worldwide. In particular, whilst there is still no exhaustive consensus view on the sustainability of particular biofuels, businesses that produce or use them need to form a pragmatic view right now on how they will respond to this challenge. The present report sets out the implications of the report and outlines what the industry and Governments need to do to secure a future for biofuels.
