More than a half (56%) of adults polled want to see an end to palm or soya oil in diesel before 2030, according to a new YouGov poll released on Friday 25 September by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), which campaigns for sustainable transport.
The survey was carried out between 2 and 7 September in seven EU Member States (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain) with a sample of 9,361 adults.
After being informed of the EU's decision to phase out palm oil in diesel by 2030, 34% of those polled want to see an end to the use of forest destructive palm oil in diesel fuel as soon as possible. Nearly a quarter (22%) want it before 2030. Only 8% oppose the EU decision.
The French (42%) and the Germans (35%) are the most in favour of stopping the production of palm-oil-based diesel. Next come the Italians (34%) and the Belgians (30%).
With regard to soya, 52% are in favour of stopping its use in diesel, while only 18% want to continue using it.
“Burning food to fuel engines leads to deforestation, exacerbates climate change and threatens both indigenous communities and endangered species”, says Cristina Mestre of T&E, who are calling for elimination by 2021. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)