Kyoto protocol overlooked carbon emissions from biofuels

Speaking on the sidelines of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) here Wednesday, Wetlands International representative Alex Kaat said the Kyoto Protocol supported the use of biofuels such as palm oil as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emission whereas in reality palm oil production was a source of large-scale greenhouse gas emission.

The burning of peat lands to open oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia was releasing about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year, he said.

The Kyoto Protocol made a mistake in assuming that the use of non-fossil fuels does not lead to emission of carbon dioxide as in reality it does.

According to Wetlands` rough estimates, about 8 percent of Malaysia`s and 20 percent to 25 percent of Indonesia`s oil palm plantations were situated on peat land. And more than 50 percent of oil palms in Indonesia stood on peat lands.