UK top scientist calls for “sustainablity clause” in biofuel mandates

In England, Professor Robert Watson, the government’s top-ranking environment scientist said that the recent Renewable Fuel Transport Obligation needed a “sustainability” clause to ensure that biofuels do not compete for land with staple food crops and or speed up deforestation.Watson told Radio 4 “It would obviously be insane if we had a policy to try and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of biofuels that’s actually leading to an increase in the greenhouse gases from biofuels.” In related news, the CEO of Nestle told NZZ that “If we want to derive 20 pct of rising oil demands from biofuels there will be no food left.”

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