The Environmental Audit Committee has called for biofuel policies to be put on hold.

The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report, Are biofuels sustainable?, has called for a freeze on biofuel targets in light of findings that they could lead to environmental damage.

The report stated that although some biofuels are sustainable and efficient, robust sustainability standards and mechanisms need to be in place before biofuel targets are set and pursued. It also reported that there are other more cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which should be explored in addition to biofuels.

Tim Yeo, Chairman of the EAC, said: “The Government must ensure that its biofuels policy balances greenhouse gas emission cuts with wider environmental impacts, so that biofuels are only used where they contribute to sustainable emissions reductions. Without this reassessment, biofuels could lead to a range of environmental impacts including water pollution and biodiversity loss.

“In addition, the absence of international mechanisms to protect rainforests means that biofuels will add further to the already significant pressures to cut them down to make way for palm oil plantations. On the basis of current biofuel technology, more greenhouse gas cuts could be achieved at lower cost and risk by implementing a range of other policies.”

The report was initiated by the Committee following the release of the UN’s report regarding the need for countries to develop a biofuels strategy to minimise negative environmental and social impacts.

The EAC was set up in 2005 in order to examine the policies and programmes of government departments and other organisations, and to assess how these contribute towards the environment and sustainability.