We will not achieve the climate goals by talking down the various renewable solutions at the expense of others. In an news statement, Bellona, Elektroforeningen (EFO) and Nelfo promote electrification as the only climate solution. Electrification is good, but promoting it by portraying sustainable biofuel as a climate disaster is simply too stupid. More and more subject experts have warned that the current climate policy does not lead us to the goal when it comes to the commitment of 55 percent emission cuts by 2030. Therefore, there is a need for all sustainable solutions that contribute to climate cuts. Electrification is a large and important part of the solution. The development of batteries, electric vehicles and charging options has been absolutely formidable, and although it has been fast, it is not fast enough to be a solution on its own. Like the chronicle authors, we also believe that the sale of renewable electricity for charging, with for example guarantees of origin, should be used to meet CO₂ reduction requirements. At the same time, we believe that the use of biofuel and other renewable solutions should also be included in such a reduction requirement. One does not come at the expense of the other. For that, there are still far too large fossil volumes to cut. Bellona, EFO and Nelfo use worst case claims for biofuels. Here it seems as if they rise above the Norwegian Environment Agency’s annual survey of this market in Norway, which last year showed that the biofuel in Norwegian tanks had a demonstrably high reduction effect on global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, the use of sustainable biofuel for road traffic alone reduced emissions by over one million tonnes of CO₂, and is still the measure that contributes the most to reductions from the transport sector. We, and our members who sell liquid fuel in Norway, fully support strict requirements to ensure the best possible biofuel into the tanks of Norwegian vehicles. All biofuel sold by our members meets the EU’s sustainability criteria. These are the criteria that are constantly being tightened based on updated knowledge and research to ensure a better global climate effect. That is good, and will continue to ensure that the biofuel gets better and better. Increasingly stricter requirements and increased transparency about global climate effects throughout the value chain, not just for biofuels, but for all energy carriers (and preferably through a common reduction obligation system!), will make it easier to choose the best solutions. In this way, climate policy becomes more accurate and ensures real climate cuts. In the meantime, talking down some renewable solutions in the hope of promoting others is neither a constructive, appropriate nor particularly sustainable way to solve climate challenges. FOLLOW THE DEBATE:
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Biofuel is no climate bluff – Statement
