biofuels – campaign context

Biofuels –Campaign context

• Big Ask has been all about a strong Climate Change Bill.

• Now it’s time to start looking at solutions as well as some of the false solutions

• The large scale expansion of biofuels is one of these dangerous false solutions.

• Key opportunity this summer to stop EU biofuel targets

Biofuels - what are they?

Any type of fuel made from organic matter.

Some are good:Recycled cooking oil, biogas from waste etc. (but only small amounts available)

But the majority are bad:Large scale monocultures of crops like oil palm, soya, maize etc. grown in countries of the Global South to fuel cars in the North.

Why are they bad?

• Bad for the environment

• Bad for people

• Bad for the climate

Carbon cycle of biofuels

= - CO2 or +CO2 (compared to fossil fuel)

(compared to petrol)

+ CO2

+ CO2

+ CO2

+ CO2

+ CO2+ N2O

- CO2

What are the real solutions?

Reducing fuel demand through

• Better planning (local shops etc.)

• Better public transport

• Better cycling facilities

• More fuel efficient cars (opportunity in EU regulation)

Aim of the campaign

1. To stop the EU from including a 10% biofuel target into the Renewable Energy Directive

2. To get strict EU targets for car efficiency

Key players

• MEPs voting in the Environment and in the Energy Committee in July and in the plenary in September.

• The UK Government's position is also important in the Council of Ministers

MEPs (Members of the European Parliament)

• 78 in the UK in total (3-9 per region)

• We concentrate on 1-3 priority MEPs in each region

• Less used to be lobbied directly than MPs: more susceptible to pressure

• EU elections next year: vulnerable

• Regional & local media is key

Materials for the summer of action

• Campaign guide

• Postcards

• Leaflets

• Posters

• Individual MEP profiles

• www.foe.co.uk/biofuels

The summer of action

• Have an initial lobbying meeting with your MEP in June

• Raise public awareness and get postcards signed throughout the summer

• Present the completed postcards to them at the end of the summer, and use the handover to get media attention

Which kind of group are you?

• Link groups: volunteer to coordinate lobbying of the MEP in June, and present postcards in August, and act as point of contact for satellite groups.

• Satellite groups: volunteer to engage in public campaigning targeted at an MEP, but any direct contact with the MEP comes via the link group.

Timeline MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

regional gatherings <-- --- -->

arrange meetings with target MEPs

<-- -- -->

meet with MEPs <-- --- --- --- ->

committees vote (Env & Energy)

<-- --- -->

raise awareness, get postcards signed,

<-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -->

present postcards to MEPs

<-- -->

plenary vote in the European Parliament

<->

Practice Session

• Lobby the public about biofuels