EU divided on methodology for calculating biofuel emissions from indirect land-use change
Tue 01 September 2009
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The European Union is reported to be divided on how to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from indirect land-use changes caused by biofuel production. The European Commission is planning to hold an official multinational consultation session at the end of this year, and to publish firm proposals on the issue in March 2010.
Indirect land use change (ILUC) is caused by the production of biomass at one location which leads to land-use change - sometimes of valuable habitats - in another location. Where there are impacts on areas with a high natural value, such as rainforests, large amounts of greenhouse gases may be released and biodiversity reduced.
EU member States, and a number of non-Members (such as Brazil), are currently discussing various ways to approach the effects of indirect land-use change. The EU has proposed seven policy options for the EU guideline on renewable energy and the indirect land use change factor is reported to be causing the greatest resistance.
The UK, Denmark and the Netherlands support the integration of ILUC effects into the calculations but other countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Poland, are firmly against this. They argue that there is insufficient scientific knowledge available on ILUC effects. These countries feel it is difficult to produce a well-defined ILUC factor for all types of biofuels. This viewpoint is also supported by Brazil, which is an important exporter of ethanol made from sugar cane.
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