The United Kingdom is pushing for discussions to reduce the amount of biofuel used worldwide by 10 per cent to be on the agenda of Sunday’s G7 summit.
However, the government can act unilaterally to reduce the amount of crops used in British biofuels.
Dustin Benton, political director at the Green Alliance and a former adviser on the government’s food strategy, said reducing crop-based biofuels would almost certainly mean temporarily removing the E10 requirement for front yards, as the UK will not be able to focus on alternative sources of biofuel quickly enough.
Grant Shaps, the transport minister, is thought to be wary of the move because of its short-term impact on vehicle emissions. This move will have to be offset by the faster entry of electric vehicles to avoid damaging the UK’s zero ambitions.
Net zero policy “non-viable”
This move will be the latest change in the government’s approach to net zero as it tackles the cost of living crisis.
On Thursday, Kwasi Quarteng, the business secretary, said he would look into the fracking case next week, following the results of a scientific review opened after the war in Ukraine.
He also defended the development of a new gas field in the North Sea, arguing the need to be “realistic about our energy needs now.”
Steve Baker, a member of Net Zero Watch, said: “Once again, we see that zero net policy is economically, socially and politically unviable.
“As much as we want to take care of our environment, we must also implement policies that are realistic.
Environmental groups say moving away from fossil fuels is the only way for the UK to ensure energy independence in the short term and reduce energy costs.
Mr Benton said reducing biofuel use would not necessarily have a negative impact on the environment.
“There is a really easy solution here,” he said. “And that’s to increase the pace at which we pick up electric vehicles and, of course, public transport, trains, everything else.”
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