By: Kizito CUDJOE
A coalition of climate-focused organisations has raised concerns over the push for biofuels in international shipping, warning that its adoption under new climate measures could exacerbate food insecurity, deforestation and human rights violations.
Despite ongoing discussions on decarbonising the shipping industry, the three-member coalition comprising Biofuelwatch (UK), the Global Forest Coalition (US) and AbibiNsroma Foundation (Ghana) noted that little progress has been made in addressing these risks.
They pointed to the talks that happened last February (ISWG-GHG-17) which did not bring concrete improvements to the discussion around biofuels.
They caution that large-scale biofuel production could drive up food prices, threaten forest ecosystems and displace vulnerable communities.
Their warning comes as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meets to finalise new climate regulations for the sector, aiming to cut emissions. However, the coalition stresses a need for sustainable alternatives that do not compromise environmental and social well-being.
“If global demand for biofuels rises to meet the needs of major industries like international shipping, the consequences for countries like Ghana could be devastating. Increased pressure on land for biofuel feedstock – such as cassava, sorghum and sugarcane – risks exacerbating land-grabbing, threatening food security and straining local livelihoods,” Kenneth Nana Amoateng of AbibiNsroma Foundation said.
“A truly clean energy transition must prioritise sustainability and renewable energy, protect vulnerable communities and avoid replicating the environmental and social injustices of fossil fuels,” he added.
Amos Yesutanbul of FIDEP Foundation also argued that: “Green energy should never come at the cost of human dignity. In Ghana, large-scale biofuel plantations – including Jatropha cultivation – are displacing smallholder farmers, reducing food production and increasing poverty.”
“If the path to sustainability forces communities off their land and threatens their survival, then it is not truly sustainable. We must ensure that clean energy solutions empower people, respect land rights and protect the livelihoods of those who depend on agriculture.”
The IMO is negotiating a ‘basket’ of policies to achieve its historic climate commitment for shipping to achieve zero/near-zero decarbonisation by 2050. The IMO’s 176 member-states agreed to finalise the policies at a climate summit (MEPC 83) in April 2025.
Under discussion is the Global Fuel Standard (GFS), which will set progressive emissions reduction targets based on their fuel intensity to phase out fossil fuels by 2050. The GFS policy’s design could either speed up its transition to renewable energy or become a large demand sector for destructive biofuels, threatening food security, biodiversity and forests.
During the last IMO talks (MEPC82, ISWG-GHG-17 and ISWG-GHG-18), Brazil has been promoting the future fuel-to-power shipping to be biofuels, supported by Argentina, Ecuador and Indonesia. Corn and cassava have been pointed out as possible feedstocks for industrialised biofuel production in Ghana.
However, these crops are considered staple foods and diverting them from their regular use might lead to food insecurity. First-generation biofuels, like the ones above, are known to have catastrophic effects on deforestation, land rights, water and fertiliser consumption and food security, especially in Global South countries.
According to a recent report by Transport & Environment, if no standards are applied biofuels could make up 36 percent of global shipping energy demand in 2030 – most of which will be derived from soy and palm oil.
Second-generation biofuels are also not a solution: their limited scalability and availability, as well as their connection to fraud risk, make them far from being a long-term solution for international shipping and its green transition.
