MEPs voted to increase the limit on the use of land-based biofuels that can meet the EU target for renewable transport fuel to 6%. This is despite the Commission’s initial proposal, which put forward a cap at 5% – close to current consumption levels.

However, the text for 6% cap was improved by not only covering food-based biofuels but also all land-using biofuels.

The cap was designed to reduce the pressure that biofuels used in Europe exert on new land around the world, leading to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions

The move has been criticized by the European Environment Bureau (EBB), a federation of Environmental Citizens Organisation.

Faustine Defossez, EEB senior policy officer for agriculture and bioenergy, said: ‘It is truly regrettable that our public representatives went against the strong evidence on the negative impacts of land-based biofuels and even voted to increase their share in the transport sector above current consumption levels. Even more shameful is that this will require billions in additional subsidies from governments and taxpayers.’

Meanwhile Brussels-based environmental NGO T&E said that the vote calls into question the willingness of the European Parliament to fix the failed EU biofuels policy.

Clean fuels manager Nusa Urbancic said: ‘Today’s vote calls into question the willingness of the European Parliament to fix the failed EU biofuels policy. Until an agreement is reached, it is uncertain for investors and the environment what the future of biofuels will be. What is certain though is that Europeans will have to keep paying for another seven years for biofuels that pollute more than the fossil fuels they are supposed to replace.

‘We urge European governments and Parliamentarians to support the full carbon accounting of biofuels in order to fix the failing EU biofuels policy once and for all. Only then can Europe ensure its citizens are not forced to fill up their cars with biofuels that drive deforestation and emissions increases,’ Nusa Urbancic concluded.

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European Parliament comes in for criticism for ‘biofuels sham’

The European Parliament has come under fire following yesterday’s (11th September) vote to increase the biofuel cap.

MEPs voted to increase the limit on the use of land-based biofuels that can meet the EU target for renewable transport fuel to 6%. This is despite the Commission’s initial proposal, which put forward a cap at 5% – close to current consumption levels.

However, the text for 6% cap was improved by not only covering food-based biofuels but also all land-using biofuels.

The cap was designed to reduce the pressure that biofuels used in Europe exert on new land around the world, leading to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions

The move has been criticized by the European Environment Bureau (EBB), a federation of Environmental Citizens Organisation.

Faustine Defossez, EEB senior policy officer for agriculture and bioenergy, said: ‘It is truly regrettable that our public representatives went against the strong evidence on the negative impacts of land-based biofuels and even voted to increase their share in the transport sector above current consumption levels. Even more shameful is that this will require billions in additional subsidies from governments and taxpayers.’

Meanwhile Brussels-based environmental NGO T&E said that the vote calls into question the willingness of the European Parliament to fix the failed EU biofuels policy.

Clean fuels manager Nusa Urbancic said: ‘Today’s vote calls into question the willingness of the European Parliament to fix the failed EU biofuels policy. Until an agreement is reached, it is uncertain for investors and the environment what the future of biofuels will be. What is certain though is that Europeans will have to keep paying for another seven years for biofuels that pollute more than the fossil fuels they are supposed to replace.

‘We urge European governments and Parliamentarians to support the full carbon accounting of biofuels in order to fix the failing EU biofuels policy once and for all. Only then can Europe ensure its citizens are not forced to fill up their cars with biofuels that drive deforestation and emissions increases,’ Nusa Urbancic concluded.