The UK has committed to reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030. Substituting renewable fuels for fossil fuels is one of the most immediate and cost-effective means of addressing GHG emissions from Transport – the largest carbon emitting sector of the UK economy. The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is the policy mechanism for achieving this, yet its targets fall so far short of what is required if the UK is serious about achieving its GHG reduction targets.
In the Updated energy and emissions projections 2019, published in October 2020, it states that “In 2018, 97% of transport Final Energy Demand was from oil-based fossil fuels but by 2040 we project this will fall to 89%.” This is a fall of only 8%, and 10 years later than the 68% ambition for 2030.
The Government is proposing an increase of the RTFO target to 12.1% by 2032. The RTFA believes there is sufficient sustainable feedstock available to justify a far greater increase. We commissioned a study of sustainable feedstock availability for the reasons set out below. Click the link below to read our summary of that report, and where to find it.
