Growing global attention to sustainability issues of crop-based biofuels as COP30 discussions on “sustainable fuels” advance
EU policies phasing out palm oil in biofuels and strengthening oversight of palm-based by-products
Environmental and social harms observed in Indonesia highlight the urgency of stronger supply-chain safeguards in Korea
As COP30 officially begins in Belém, Brazil, concerns are being raised that the expansion of so-called 'sustainable fuels' could temporarily increase the use of conventional biofuels. In particular, the 'Belém 4× Initiative' announced under the leadership of COP30 host Brazil is facing criticism for lacking measures to prevent large-scale land conversion, a long-standing concern raised by the IPCC, IEA, and global civil society.
South Korea has a high reliance on bioenergy in both its renewable energy production and power generation sectors. Bio-diesel and bio-heavy oil account for a core proportion in their respective sectors, and the raw materials heavily depend on palm oil and its by-products imported primarily from Indonesia and Malaysia. In contrast, the European Union (EU) is pushing for the gradual phase-out of palm oil as a biofuel feedstock and is intensifying the management and supervision of by-products like Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). Amidst these international shifts, an international webinar was held to review South Korea's biofuel policy and explore future directions.
The Climate Ocean Research Institute (CORI) and Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) co-hosted the webinar, "EU Regulation on Palm Oil in Biofuel Policy and Supply Chain Risks: Implications for Korea," on the 12th at 3 PM, both at the Halfmoon Conference Room of the Hi Seoul Youth Hostel and online via Zoom. The event was co-organized by the office of Rep. Hankyu Kim of the Democratic Party of Korea and the Heinrich Böll Foundation East Asia Regional Office.
The webinar began with opening remarks from Rep. Hankyu Kim (Democratic Party of Korea) and Jasmin Walda, regional representative of the Heinrich Böll Foundation East Asia Regional Office.
Rep. Hankyu Kim pointed out the reality that pollutant emissions from bio-heavy oil power plants in the Jeju region are higher than those from coal-fired power plants, and the components and mixing ratios of the fuel used are not disclosed. He emphasized, "Now is the time to ask whether renewable energy is truly sustainable and trustworthy, beyond its quantitative expansion."
Jasmin Walda stated, "While biofuels are considered a solution for carbon neutrality, they actually carry complex environmental and social problems," stressing the need for policy design centered on human rights and sustainability.
In the first presentation, Jude Lee, a Policy Expert from Transport & Environment, explained that under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED), palm oil is classified as a high-risk feedstock causing Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) and is scheduled to be excluded from eligibility for renewable energy by 2030. She pointed out that while this has led to a decrease in palm oil use in the EU, the demand for used cooking oil and POME has surged. She specified that EU POME consumption increased fivefold between 2020 and 2023, and its market value reached about 90% of crude palm oil. Furthermore, she noted credibility issues with voluntary certification schemes, primarily led by ISCC, due to statistical discrepancies and over-certification, as the EU and UK's POME usage in 2023 exceeds the global potential. She recommended phasing out POME incentives and strengthening government-led supply chain regulations.
In the second presentation, Miriam Sahl from the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), pointed out that while POME is classified as a 'feedstock for advanced biofuels' in RED III, supply chain risks exist due to the ambiguity of its definition and the danger of feedstock mixing during the production process. She cited the mixing of POME with crude palm oil, inflation of export volumes, and inconsistent standards among certification bodies as problems. She emphasized the need for systematic supervision across all stages of the supply chain and increased accountability for certification bodies. She also introduced the German government's plan to exclude palm-based wastes and by-products from advanced biofuels quotas and to strengthen the supervision of certification bodies through related legal amendments, explaining the importance of establishing a national regulatory framework.
In the third presentation, Ayu Kusuma Pertiwi from Walhi Central Kalimantan, pointed out that Indonesia's biofuel expansion policy is accelerating deforestation and human rights abuses in the Central Kalimantan region by rapidly increasing palm oil demand. She explained that about 1.7 million hectares of tropical forest have been destroyed since 2002, and palm oil plantations occupy over 20% of the total land. She further emphasized the complex problems arising from the destruction of forests and peatlands, including greenhouse gas emissions, increased risks of disasters like floods and fires, and the loss of local livelihoods, food insecurity, violation of indigenous peoples' rights, and suppression of environmental defenders. She urged key importing countries of biofuel raw materials, such as the EU and South Korea, to strengthen human rights and environmental responsibilities across the entire supply chain.
The subsequent discussion, led by Sooyul Hong, Director of the Resource Recycling Socio- Economic Research Institute, centered on the institutional limitations of South Korea's biofuel policy.
Shinyoung Chung, an attorney at APIL, pointed out that third-party certification schemes like RSPO and ISCC used in the palm oil and biofuel industry lack independence and effectiveness due to their reliance on membership fee contribution. She suggested that certification based on formal reviews and voluntary disclosures alone cannot prevent deforestation and human rights abuses, and proposed the introduction of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation across the entire supply chain.
Jungdo Kim, a head of climate ocean division at CORI, pointed out that despite the structural reliance of the domestic biofuel industry on imported palm oil-based feedstocks, the system remains focused on supply expansion without a systematic alternative. He cited the environmental side effects, such as higher air pollutant emissions from bio-heavy oil power plants in the Jeju island compared to coal-fired power, and proposed the gradual exclusion of high-risk feedstocks, mandatory disclosure of feedstocks information, and the introduction of a differentiated support system based on the greenhouse gas reduction effect of each fuel.
Eleonora Fasan, a researcher at SFOC, pointed out that South Korea is at risk of repeating the mistake of 'high-risk feedstocks dependence,' already experienced by Europe, in its pursuit of decarbonization in the transport and aviation sectors. She emphasized that South Korea's excessive reliance on palm oil and its co-products perpetuates a structure that externalizes deforestation and human rights abuses overseas. She stressed the need to strengthen the sustainability verification system, gradually exclude high-risk feedstocks, and transition investment toward waste-based alternative fuels.
Chiun Sung, Deputy Director of the Petroleum Industry Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, explained that the South Korean government is considering biofuels as one of the transition measures for achieving carbon neutrality, and is pursuing a phased transition that balances climate goals, energy security, and industrial competitiveness. He acknowledged the environmental and social risks of palm oil and its co-products, stating that policy design will incorporate the reduction effects and sustainability criteria of each feedstock based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results. He concluded by saying the government will enhance the transparency and accountability of the supply chain by balancing international discussions and domestic circumstances.
This webinar is highly significant as it brought together civil society, government, and researchers from Europe and Asia to examine the structural limitations of the food crop-based biofuel industry and explore directions for a sustainable international transition. The presentation and discussion materials from the event can be found on the websites of the CORI and APIL.
