Biofuels in petrol rules come into force

New rules requiring the inclusion of biofuels in vehicle fuels come into force this week amid calls from environmentalists to find more sustainable ways to cut emissions from transport.

The introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) on Tuesday will mean that all petrol sold in the UK will have to include at least 2.5 per cent biofuels, rising to 5 per cent by 2010.

But some scientists and green groups have voiced fears that far from being the silver bullet to solve climate change, they actually contribute more greenhouse gases through deforestation and the use of fertilisers than they save.

There are also concerns the switch to energy crops from food production - including a large-scale drive in the US to produce bioethanol from maize - is contributing to rising fuel prices.

Ahead of the RTFO's introduction, the Government insisted the gradual introduction of biofuels will cut millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, and said it would not go beyond the 5 per cent target unless it was sure it could be done sustainably.

But Friends of the Earth demanded transport's greenhouse gases, which account for around 28 per cent of overall UK emissions, be tackled by investing in better public transport and mandatory emissions limits on cars.

A survey for the environmental group showed almost nine out of 10 people did not know that the renewable fuels - made from crops such as sugar cane or maize - would be required in their vehicles.

Of the 55 per cent of those questioned who knew what biofuels were, fewer than one in seven thought they were the best way to reduce emissions from road transport, the YouGov poll found.

More than three quarters (78 per cent) of the more than 2,000 adults polled agreed that European leaders should insist manufacturers double the fuel efficiency on new cars by 2020 and more than two thirds (70 per cent) thought that the UK Government is not doing enough to improve public transport.

Friends of the Earth also said two thirds were not aware that biofuels could be contributing to the destruction of rainforests cleared to make way for growing the crops.

FoE's biofuels campaigner Kenneth Richter said: "People want to see real green transport solutions that will make a difference to their lives - like better transport and smarter cars that burn less fuel.

"It's now up to the Government to set us on the right track." But Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Gradually introducing biofuels could help save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide in the next few years and the UK has done more than any other country to make sure they are produced sustainably."

He said fuel suppliers would be required to report publicly on the sustainability of the biofuels they provide - an important step to mandatory standards the Government was pressing for.

"We will not increase biofuels targets beyond 5 per cent unless we are satisfied this can be done without damaging environmental impacts," he added.

And while the concerns have prompted a Government review into their environmental and economic impacts, experts said biofuels had a part to play in tackling emissions from transport.

Nigel Mortimer, research manager at the University of Loughborough and director of North Energy Associates said the current targets could be achieved sustainably, but longer term goals were more difficult.

"My view is sustainable biofuels have a part to play in sustainable mobility, but are just part of the solution." He said changes in behaviour and integrated policies were needed which would, for example, improve the collection of organic household waste to be processed for biofuels.

Professor Gail Taylor of the University of Southampton said there was potential to supply 5 per cent of transport fuel from biofuels from within Europe.

Ramping up to the 10 per cent proposed by the EU for 2020 would be more difficult, and would require imports from areas where sustainability might be harder to assure.

But "second generation" biofuels - more energy efficient and sourced largely from waste products of agriculture such as straw - are less than five years away, Richard Murphy of Imperial College London said.