EU backs away from biofuel goal

by Luiz Castro | July 6, 2008 at 05:16 am | 167 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Sugar Cane Plantations - 1250 Milles away from Amazon Rain Forest

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European Union energy chiefs considered an accord with Brazil over biofuels on Saturday at the end of a three day meeting in Paris during which they backed away from the EU's controversial biofuels target.

My analysis shows the only country where we can sustainably import substantial quantities of agri-fuels to the EU at the moment is Brazil," Turmes told Reuters.

"Such an agreement would be a test case, with tough criteria both on sustainability and social issues," he added. "At the same time, Brazil would have to show us it can halt deforestation."

Turmes revealed to Reuters on Friday he had broad parliamentary backing to propose changing the EU's target for biofuels so that 4 percent of road transport fuels come from renewable sources by 2015.

One-fifth of those renewable fuels would have to be either second generation biofuels or electric vehicles, and there would be a major review in 2015 to decide whether to move towards an 8 to 10 percent target in 2020, he added.

In addition, a draft European Environment Agency report leaked to Reuters showed the EU may get barely one-third of its target for biofuels in transport fuels from home-produced sources by 2020, requiring massive imports to meet the goal.

France, which took over the EU's rotating presidency this week, has made climate change a top priority.