Brussels, 03/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Just before Christmas, the Commission published a report on the impact of indirect land use change on greenhouse gas emissions, an issue related to biofuels and bioliquids. The report acknowledges that indirect land use change can reduce greenhouse gas emissions savings associated with biofuels, but also identifies a number of uncertainties associated with the available models. Commenting on the report, Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said that it had to be ensured that “the biofuels we promote deliver clear greenhouse gas savings”. She went on to say: “Although we have developed robust sustainability criteria for their production, we must not ignore any unwanted impacts that may be caused globally as a result of the additional demand. Action in the field should follow a precautionary approach”.
The report adopted on 22 December summarises the analytical work carried out by the Commission over the last two years, including an overview of the consultation exercises, involving both experts and the general public, that have been conducted on this issue. The Commission says that it will now focus on carrying out a detailed assessment of a shortlist of the potential policy approaches for dealing with this issue, which will be presented no later than July 2011. This will, if appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposal for amending the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality Directives. Should the forthcoming impact assessment come to the conclusion that legislative action is needed, the Commission says it will ensure that any future policy decision is based on the best available and most accurate science. The Impact Assessment will consider the following policy options: - taking no action for the time being, while continuing to monitor; - increasing the minimum greenhouse gas saving threshold for biofuels and bioliquids; - introducing additional sustainability requirements on certain categories of biofuels and bioliquids; - attributing a quantity of greenhouse gas emissions to biofuels reflecting the estimated indirect land use change impact. (Com-O.L./transl.rt)