A coalition of 69 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), led by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to exclude biofuels from its Global Fuel Standard (GFS), warning of severe environmental and social consequences.
In an open letter to the IMO Secretariat on February 17, 2025, the groups cautioned that integrating biofuels into global shipping could accelerate deforestation, harm local communities, and undermine climate goals.
As the IMO finalizes its climate regulations for international shipping, the NGOs urged its 176 member states to reject biofuels and prioritize genuinely sustainable alternatives.
The GFS, a key part of the IMO’s revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy, aims to reduce emissions and drive the shipping industry toward decarbonization. However, the coalition argues that including biofuels would be counterproductive, exacerbating environmental degradation rather than mitigating it.
The letter highlights the ecological risks of large-scale biofuel production, including deforestation, land displacement, and food insecurity. The NGOs warn that expanding biofuel use especially those derived from soy and palm oil could worsen water pollution, biodiversity loss, and the displacement of indigenous and farming communities, particularly in South America and Southeast Asia.
“This risks causing even more climate and environmental damage than oil, not less,” the letter states.
The coalition also calls out Brazil as a major proponent of biofuels in shipping, warning that the country’s growing palm oil industry poses significant environmental risks, including illegal land grabs and water pollution.
“Brazil’s palm oil production is expanding and has already been linked to large-scale deforestation and land conflicts. Now, Brazil is positioning the shipping sector as its next major biofuel customer;an expansion that would have catastrophic social and environmental costs,” NGOs wrote.
Beyond Brazil, the letter also highlights rising deforestation rates in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela due to increased biofuel crop cultivation.
Instead of biofuels, the NGOs advocate for alternative solutions such as improved energy efficiency, stricter emissions regulations, and innovative ship designs. They emphasize that technologies like wind-assisted propulsion and reduced global trade volumes could significantly cut shipping’s carbon footprint.
“Decarbonizing the shipping sector is possible without relying on biofuels. Stricter efficiency standards, advanced ship designs, and wind propulsion offer real solutions that do not come at the cost of forests, food security, and communities,” the letter concludes.
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