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NGOs urge IMO to exclude biofuels from GHG strategy
As IMO prepares to finalize key measures for achieving net-zero GHG emissions in international shipping, environmental and Indigenous rights groups are raising concerns over the potential inclusion of biofuels in the decarbonization strategy.
Organizations such as Biofuelwatch, the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), and AbibiNsroma Foundation are urging the IMO to exclude biofuels from its Global Fuel Standard and instead focus on clean energy alternatives. They argue that biofuels, including those derived from crops like palm oil and soy, contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human rights violations, with the large-scale production of these fuels often displacing Indigenous peoples and threatening food security.
According to the organizations, biofuels, particularly those from palm oil and soy, are major drivers of environmental harm, including deforestation in countries like Indonesia, and exacerbate social injustices. The so-called “second-generation” biofuels, made from waste materials, are also seen as unscalable and insufficient to meet the shipping industry’s needs.
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Critics argue that biofuels prolong reliance on fossil fuels by diverting resources into refineries retrofitted for biofuel production, rather than investing in truly clean energy solutions like wind-assisted propulsion and electrification.
The biofuel industry is also rife with fraud, as seen in reports about mislabeling palm oil as Used Cooking Oil (UCO), which fuels further deforestation. NGOs and Indigenous groups have warned the IMO about these dangers, urging the organization to adopt policies that genuinely promote sustainability and climate action.
The IMO is called to reject biofuels as part of its decarbonization strategy and instead prioritize truly clean energy alternatives that do not harm forests, communities, or global food security.
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