Brussels, 11/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 July, the European Parliament's environment committee called for more sustainable biofuels in Europe, a cap on first generation farm fuel used as renewable energy for transport and faster use of second and third generation biofuels made from seaweed and waste (see EUROPE 10885). Following the recommendation of its rapporteur Corinne Lepage (ALDE, France) by a comfortable majority (43 to 26 and 1 abstention), the environment committee, the lead committee on this issue, set the course for reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by the growing use of farmland for biofuel rather than food (ILUC). The vote reassured people disappointed by the voting at the EP committees consulted for their opinion on the draft legislation seeking to amend the fuel quality directive (98/70/EC) and renewable energy directive (2009/28/EC) to to take account of the ILUC factor in the EU's biofuel policy.
After the vote, the rapporteur said she was happy that the environment committee had decided to tackle the problem of greenhouse gas emissions from changes in land use by including caps on first generation biofuels in EU legislation and promoting more advanced forms of biofuel. Talks, she said, will now start with the EP's industry, research and energy committee ahead of the plenary vote in September. Lepage said she would ensure that industry had time to adjust and would be outlining a compromise to this effect at the September plenary. The report puts a 5.5% cap on the share of first generation biofuel used to reach the target of 10% of renewable energy in total energy consumption for transport by 2020 (the European Commission suggested a 5% cap, but the industry, research and energy committee voted for 6%).
The report suggests sub-targets of a 2% cap for electricity and 2% for advanced agrifuels (the same as suggested by the industry, research and energy committee). MEPs say that advanced biofuels from others sources, like waste and seaweed, should account for at least 2% of fuel consumption in 2020, but this must not deprive other industries of raw materials, destabilise the EU's policy for waste and forestry or have a negative impact on biodiversity. In order to promote electric vehicles on the market, electricity generated from renewable fuel should account for 2% of overall fuel consumption for transport in 2020.
The report introduces ILUC concerns into the fuel quality directive from 2010 onwards, along with the renewable energy directive, but here it does not give a date. Lepage is keen to have a date added to the second directive. The report includes flexibility for member states that fail to meet the 10% target for renewable energy, the sustainability criteria for second generation biofuels and the requirements for carbon wells (in other words the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide).
Commenting on the deal struck with the EPP on a cap of 5.5%, Lepage told reporters that EU capacity was 4.7% to 4.8% and the committee had voted for 5.5% as existing EU rules allow for carbon trading. Countries with 3% can work with countries that have 6%, she said, because the cap is not an absolute figure and more can be generated, but not under the same conditions. She said the figures were not totally compatible with the figures in the renewables directive, and she would like greater coherence. Lepage said the environment committee had charge here, but she was open to debate about a policy that costs Europe €10 billion a year, adding that the policy is proven to have multiple impacts on the climate, with a highly debatable impact on southern countries. She said a good balance had to be struck between the environment and investment by industry.
Non-governmenalt organisation Transport & Environment said: “It is encouraging to see MEPs in charge of protecting our environment finally addressed the elephant in the room by fully accounting for indirect emissions in the EU biofuels policy. This vote will pave the way for fully sustainable transport fuels, which actually reduce emissions, as of 2020”.
WWF takes a similar line. Imke Lübbeke, WWF's renewable energy senior policy officer, commented: “The Environment Committee has taken an important step towards ensuring more sustainable biofuels in Europe. By deciding to apply the full accounting of the climate impact of biofuel emissions from indirect land-use change to the two relevant laws, MEPs gave the market the right incentives to provide cleaner biofuels”.
Oxfam is disappointed, but recognises that the rapporteur did some damage limitation. “Today's vote falls short of what is needed to put the brakes on growing European demand for biofuels allowing an expensive and failed policy to go on fuelling hunger and land-grabs in poor countries. In a world where nearly 900 million people go to bed hungry every night, the support for biofuels should be phased out”, argued Marc Olivier Herman, Oxfam's EU biofuels expert. He added: “At least rapporteur Lepage managed to prevent a worst-case scenario by standing firm in the face of attempts by the biofuel industry and the European farmers' unions to further weaken the European Parliament's position. Now it is up to all MEPs to resist this pressure ahead of the crucial vote in September and vote for no more food for fuel”. In 2008, the European Parliament called for ILUC to be taken into account in the EU's biofuel policy. (AN/transl.fl)