Home-grown biofuel best, says CLA
The CLA today (11 August) urged the Government to guarantee biofuels imported from outside the UK meet the high environmental standards demanded from inside the UK.
The Association backed the latest report from the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) which said that more than three quarters of biofuels used in the UK meet no environmental standards whatsoever. However, three quarters of home-grown biofuels have delivered greenhouse gas savings of at least 44 percent against fossil fuels.
Henry Robinson, Vice-President of the CLA said: Home-grown in the UK biofuels are best but we have worked closely with the Government and RFA to ensure a competitive market by trying to guarantee imported biofuels are meeting the high standards that are commonplace in the UK. There is currently a voluntary reporting system but this is clearly not working.
Most biofuels can be traced in small quantities in conventional fuels, but the big oil companies say they dont know where their biofuel is coming from so dont report it. If those companies cant prove the source is not from a recently decimated rainforest motorists in the UK should not be expected to subsidise the imports.
Mr Robinson added: The Government must insist that the big oil companies meet UK environmental standards and announce a date from when biofuels without environmental certification will not qualify for Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation funding. In the meantime, the CLA encourages buying British when it comes to biofuel.
The Renewable Fuels Agency report can be downloaded here: http://www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/carbon-and-sustainability/rtfo-reports
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has more than 35,000 members.
As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.
For more information about the CLA, visit: www.cla.org.uk