Food cannot be fuel for Europe’s aeroplanes

Today, the European Parliament will vote on an expanded definition of Sustainable Aviation Fuels or “SAFs” (under the ReFuel EU Aviation proposal), which includes unsustainable feedstocks such as palm oil distillate and some food crops. The expanded definition is opposed by major European airlines, several Member States, and the Greens/EFA Group. The aviation industry has raised concerns about the reputational impact they would suffer from links to notorious biofuels, and the inherent instability of these biofuels. The Greens/EFA Group are calling on the European Parliament to support the original and balanced SAFs definition proposed by the European Commission.

Ciarán Cuffe MEP, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur in the Committee on Transport, comments:

"Food does not belong in aeroplane tanks. A broad coalition of environmental organizations and the aviation industry has mobilised for a future with truly sustainable aviation fuels. With the ongoing climate crisis, rising food insecurity in EU third countries and the ongoing war in Ukraine, it would be downright criminal to burn food in our aircrafts and clear more forests for palm oil cultivation, just so we can jet around Europe with a green-washed conscience. Only synthetic fuels can make more sustainable flying possible."