Cop30 climate summit pushes major biofuel expansion despite environmental and food security concerns

At the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, a coalition led by Brazil, Italy, Japan, and India is championing an ambitious pledge to dramatically expand global biofuel production. The proposal calls for increasing sustainable fuel use by at least four times current levels by 2035, targeting 10% of road transport, 15% of aviation, and 35% of shipping fuel needs. While 23 countries have already signed on, the initiative has sparked intense debate about whether biofuels truly offer the climate solution they promise.

The controversy centers on biofuels’ complex environmental footprint. Most biofuels are made from food crops like corn, sugarcane, and soybeans, creating fierce competition between fuel tanks and dinner plates. A recent analysis found that biofuels actually generate 16% more CO2 emissions than fossil fuels when accounting for indirect impacts like deforestation. As farmers clear forests and grasslands to replace cropland diverted to biofuel production, the resulting habitat destruction often releases more carbon than biofuels save.

The food security implications are equally troubling. Research shows that U.S. biofuel mandates have increased corn prices by 30% and other crop prices by around 20%, with the burden falling hardest on vulnerable populations. Currently, over 40 million hectares of farmland—an area the size of Paraguay—is already dedicated to biofuel crops, and the new targets could require additional land equivalent to France’s total area.

Critics argue the push represents a dangerous gamble that could worsen both climate change and global hunger, while supporters maintain that with proper safeguards, biofuels remain essential for decarbonizing transportation, especially in developing nations.