By JKNewsMedia
A PUSH to promote biofuels in international shipping under the United Nations’ Global Fuel Standard (GFS) has sparked strong opposition from environmental and human rights groups.
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and 68 other international nongovernmental organisations have warned the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) against endorsing biofuels as an alternative to petrol, citing severe risks to rainforests, communities, and food security.
In an open letter sent to the IMO Secretariat, the NGOs called on the organisation’s 176 Member States to reject biofuels in shipping and instead support a transition to cleaner energy sources.
They argued that the GFS should be built on stringent life-cycle assessment guidelines that exclude biofuels, ensuring climate protection and environmental sustainability.
The IMO developed the Global Fuel Standard as a measure to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships and help meet its decarbonisation targets.
However, the proposal to include biofuels has raised concerns that it could lead to widespread ecological harm.
With the IMO set to finalise key climate policies in April, discussions in London will determine which fuels and technologies will shape the future of international shipping.
Environmental advocates highlight that shipping accounts for approximately 5% of global oil consumption—more than any country outside China and the United States.
As some governments and corporations push for biofuels to replace fossil fuels in maritime transport, campaigners warn that this shift could accelerate deforestation, water scarcity, and land conflicts.
The letter specifically criticised the Brazilian government, which is advocating for biofuels as a long-term solution for shipping.
Brazil, set to host the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in November, aims to expand its biofuel industry globally, despite concerns over its impact.
CAPPA and other signatories accused Brazil of promoting biofuels while ignoring their social and environmental consequences.
It reveals that Brazil’s palm oil industry has already been linked to illegal land grabs and water pollution.
Expanding biofuel production for shipping could exacerbate these issues, the NGOs warned.
They cited studies showing that soy and palm oil-based biofuels generate higher life-cycle emissions than fossil diesel, undermining global climate efforts.
Neighbouring countries, including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, are also experiencing rising deforestation due to agricultural expansion for biofuels.
According to recent research, increased demand for soy, maize, rice, and cassava crops has intensified land use conflicts, threatening indigenous and small farming communities.
Beyond environmental destruction, biofuel production poses serious social risks.
The NGOs pointed out that communities in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia are already suffering from the effects of industrial-scale monoculture plantations.
The use of pesticides on these plantations has led to severe health problems, while land and water grabs have displaced local populations.
The letter further warned that increasing biofuel production could deepen gender-based inequalities, particularly affecting women in rural areas who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Loss of land and water access could further push women into economic marginalisation, worsening existing social disparities.
Instead of promoting biofuels, CAPPA and its allies urged the IMO to explore more sustainable alternatives.
These include advanced energy efficiency measures, innovative ship designs, and wind-assisted propulsion technologies.
Reducing the volume of goods transported by sea was also proposed as a key strategy to lower shipping’s environmental footprint, by the group.
The environmental groups further stressed that policymakers must adopt solutions that do not create new ecological and social crises, adding that the final decision on the Global Fuel Standard is expected in April, hoping that the outcome shaping the future of international maritime transport.
