Concerns over biofuel targets30 September 2008
UK MEPs have been lobbied throughout the summer on biofuels.
MEPs on the Committee of Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) voted to propose changes to the draft EU biofuels targets.
These changes will include a number of improvements to the draft legislation.
Proposed changes
Greenhouse gas threshold
Any biofuels will have to produce 60% less green house gas emissions than fossil fuels.
The majority of biofuels would have difficulty achieving this target.
Indirect land use change
Emissions from deforestation caused directly or indirectly by biofuel plantations have been made in the draft Directive.
This is vital, as emissions from deforestation can cancel out any climate benefits of biofuels.
Review clause
MEPs voted to review the biofuels target in 2014, with the option to scrap them at this point.
Sub-targets
Part of the target will have to come from using other forms of renewable energy in transport. This would include electric cars.
10% target remains
Unfortunately MEPs did not vote to scrap the overall 10% target by 2020.
What the changes will mean
The above clauses have the potential to alleviate some of the negative impacts of biofuels.
However, these are only proposals from the EU parliament.
There is therefore a serious danger that even these improvements will be lost in the parliament's negotiations with the EU Council of Ministers.
A final decision is expected in December.
© Friends of the Earth
