Indonesia threatens to leave Paris Agreement over palm oil dispute

A senior Indonesian minister warned that the country could consider leaving the Paris Agreement if the EU continues its plans to phase out palm oil as a sustainable source of renewable fuel, Reuters reports.

Earlier this month, Biofuels International reported that the EU had doubled down on its assault against palm oil, which was included in its outlawing of high indirect land-use change (ILUC) sources for green fuels.

In the report, ethanol producer ePure’s secretary general Emmanuel Desplechin argued that the EU’s draft against palm oil wasn’t enough to fully phase it out.

According to Reuters, the harvesting of palm oil is often the target of blame for environment destruction and the endangerment of several species of animals.

The Indonesian government claims that palm is being discriminated against to promote oils on the European market, including sunflower and rapeseed.

“If the U.S. and Brazil can leave the climate deal, we should consider that. Why not?” Indonesian minister Luhut Pandjaitan said at a palm oil forum.

The country’s palm oil companies will be encouraged to file separate legal complaints against the EU if the phase out goes ahead, the government said earlier this week, as reported by Reuters.