Biofuels or agrofuels are crops that are produced for energy production. Globally, biofuels demand and production is rising dramatically. Biofuels often emit less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. However, there are also negative sides attached to this development. 

The new demand for enormous areas of land and water is a new pressure on the remaining natural areas and on areas that are in fact not suited for sustainable biofuel production. Research by Wetlands International showed that biofuels are responsible for huge carbon emissions due to peatland conversion and degradation. Furthermore, it showed that biofuel production leads to the loss of many wetlands in Africa, Asia and South America.  

What we do

Wetlands International is closely involved in this subject. We are a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). In this role, we are advocating a certification scheme with social and environmental criteria. 

We demand attention and push for a resolution on the adverse impacts of biofuels at the Convention on Biodiversity, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the UN Climate Conference.

We advise governments from both producing and importing countries on sustainable biofuel criteria and management.

We address the European Commission with advise on the biofuel directive and renewable energy directive.

We directly engage with the corporate sector (cooperation with the palm oil sector to advise on good and bad practices)