European Parliament calls for improved policies for high GHG saving biofuels post-2020
In Belgium, the European Parliament has adopted an own-initiative report on the European Commission’s 2015 Renewable Energy Progress report.
In the transport sector, which is now the single biggest emitter of GHG emissions in Europe, the Parliament notes that the target for 10% renewables by 2020 is “significantly lagging behind, partly owing to the challenges for a biofuel-based renewable strategy for transport” and calls on the Commission to improve the legislative framework for biofuels with high GHG savings post-2020.
The Parliament also emphasised that a balanced policy for biofuels use, including ethanol, could provide Europe’s farmers with a secure income, attract investment, jobs and make Europe less dependent on fossil fuel imports. In addition, the report stresses the need to encourage the use of unused agricultural land for the production of bioenergy feedstocks.
The Parliament’s report comes as ePURE has released a comprehensive “Overview of the biofuel policies and markets across the EU-28” which highlights the lack of progress in renewables use in transport and the need for a full and quick implementation of the current EU biofuel legislation, including the roll-out of higher biofuels blends by Member States, to attain the 10% target. National implementation of the EU biofuels policy is vital because the industry needs guidance and long term, stable rules to provide the necessary volumes of biofuels needed to meet the EU targets.
“Ahead of the Commission’s Communication on the decarbonisation of transport and the post-2020 renewable energy package, the European Parliament has provided strong guidance to the Commission that sustainable biofuels with high GHG savings, such as European ethanol, are an essential part of the energy mix and a vital tool to decarbonise transport”, said Robert Wright, Secretary-General of ePURE.
Category: Policy
