Biofuels
Concerns over energy security, economic development and climate change are driving the development of biofuels.
This report sets out an ethical framework to guide policy making for both current and future biofuels.
read more »Council gives Select Committee evidence on bioenergy
Today Dr Alena Buyx, Assistant Director of the Council, gave oral evidence at a one-off session on bioenergy of the Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
On being questioned about the Council’s six ethical principles for biofuel policy, Alena emphasised that:
read more »Biofuels - Biofuels consultation responses
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has decided that, where possible, it will post consultation responses on its website. The Working Party has found the replies extremely useful and has considered all the responses.
In the spirit of openness, the Council has made these submissions available to the wider public. Only the submissions of those respondents who have given their consent have been made available.
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read more »New teaching resources on the ethics of biofuels
The Council has published a set of teaching resources based on its 2011 report Biofuels: ethical issues.
This set of resources aims to introduce students to the advantages and disadvantages of different types of biofuels that are being produced as alternative renewable sources of energy for transport.
Activities include case studies and a role play exercise to explore the various motivations that are driving the biofuels industry in different countries, and the possible impact that biofuels can have on people’s everyday lives.
read more »Council comments on Renewable Energy Directive proposals
The EC Renewable Energy Directive (RED), adopted in April 2009, requires that 10 percent of transport fuel comes from renewable sources by 2020. The UK Government proposes to implement the transport elements of the RED by amending in December 2011 the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which sets biofuels targets up to April 2013.
read more »Education - Teaching resource: biofuels
We are conducting a short survey to gather people’s views on teaching resources produced by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The survey should take around 3-4 minutes to complete and your feedback would be very much valued.
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EC approves certification schemes for biofuels
The European Commission has approved the first voluntary schemes that certify the sustainability of biofuels. To qualify for certification by these schemes, biofuels must be environmentally sustainable and lead to greenhouse gas emission savings over the whole production lifecycle. These criteria match two of the ethical principles that the Council recommended should guide biofuels policy development, as set out in its recent report Biofuels: ethical issues.
read more »G20 report addresses effect of biofuels on food prices
A major international report delivered to the G20 group of governments, emphasises that biofuels should not impinge on people’s basic right to food – a central element of the ethical framework developed by the Council in its recent report Biofuels: ethical issues.
read more »Council calls for mandatory certification of biofuels
In its response to the Government’s consultation on implementing the transport elements of the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED), the Council has called for the introduction of mandatory certification of biofuels, including both environmental and social sustainability criteria.
read more »Biofuels - Launch seminar presentations
The following presentations were given by members of the Working Party at the launch seminar for 'Biofuels: ethical issues' on 13 April 2011.
Introduction and overview
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