New Fuels, Same Problems:
The reality of alternative fuels

Biofuels, despite their green-sounding name, are not health or climate-friendly and, therefore not the solution to transport needs. They are a continuation of a polluting system that is holding back more sustainable changes that need to happen in mobility in Europe. EPHA has put together a position paper on the public health effects of alternative fuels and has commissioned a series of personal stories to highlight how these factors are affecting people every day across Europe. EPHA is advocating for a full transition to sustainable mobility in the EU, to protect people, the environment and the climate.

Read our position paper

Air pollution, and the story of Kjeld Hansen

Biofuels, a biomass-based fuel, will persist in emitting hazardous pollutants from vehicles, contributing to Europe’s leading environmental health risk—air pollution, accounting for over 300,000 deaths annually. Hear Kjeld’s story about suffering severe asthma, and how he came to be an advocate of people suffering respiratory disease, and what he thinks we need to do to tackle air pollution.

Noise pollution, and the story of Bridie Collins

Noise pollution, the second most significant environmental risk in Europe, not only causes annoyance but is linked to premature death, including from cardiovascular disease and can heavily impact the quality of societies. Hear Bridie’s story about the effect that traffic noise has on her personally, and how shifting to sustainable heavy-duty vehicles would reduce the burden on noise pollution across Europe.

Climate change, and the story of Sebastian

Sebastian’s story is a terrifying first-hand account of how climate change looks, and a strong call for us to use all our resources and ambitious to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We need strong, ambitious policies to tackle climate change, with no allowances for biofuels or alternative fuels, which will continue to impact the climate.

Planetary Health, and the story of Gina Maffey

Listen to Gina’s journey as a researcher in Brazil, where she was confronted with the stark contrast between the flourishing biodiversity of the Pantanal and the vast agricultural land of the Cerrado. Highlighting the impact of the international bio-industry, Gina advocates for a paradigm shift, urging us to view the natural world not as a backdrop but as an intricate system that we are woven into. She stresses the significance of decisions made today, as they will resonate for generations to come.

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New Fuels, Same Problems:The reality of alternative fuels