New legislation from today (15th April 2008) will require all petrol and diesel sold in the UK to consist of at least 2.5% biofuels.
The 2.5% target could be heightened to 5% by 2010 but although the Department for Transport claim that this good news for the environment, Friends of the Earth have attacked the move, claiming that biofuels have a negative impact on the environment.
Kenneth Ricter of Friends of the Earth said “People want to see real green transport solutions that will make a difference to their lives – like better public transport and smarter cars that burn less fuel.”
In answer to concerns over the production of biofuels causing deforestation and food shortages the transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said “We must do all we can to ensure biofuels are produced sustainably. We know people are concerned about the environmental risks associated with expanding biofuel production and we take those concerns very seriously”.
