British MPs warn biofuels will harm planet

London, Jan 21 : A committee of British MPs has said that the plans to promote "green" petrol and diesel made from crops will do the planet more harm than good, and should be scrapped. he demand for land to grow biofuel crops is harming tropical forests. Their report accuses ministers and the European Union of being "reckless" in subsidising fuels made from plants in the absence of international agreements to protect the tropical forests.

The Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee warns that growing crops such as wheat and sugar beet in Britain to make fuel would cause a rise in the price of food, and make it harder to meet targets on water quality and the conservation of birds, plants and animals.

The MPs say an immediate moratorium should be imposed on "expensive and inefficient" subsidies directed at "green" fuels.

Instead, policies should be redirected at the growing of "biomass" -- wood and other crops that can be grown on non-crop land and used to generate heat -- and the development of "second-generation" biofuels from waste", they demanded.

The report also calls for policies to be re-directed towards international mechanisms to enable the creation of new ''carbon sinks" by protecting more tropical forest, The Daily Telegraph reported.

ANI