Most EU states have no plans to raise biofuel use beyond 10% 2020 target
Fri 03 September 2010
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According to a survey by ENDS, most EU member states have no plans to raise biofuel use beyond the EU’s target of 10% in transport fuels by 2020. ENDS suggests this is a result of the uncertainty generated by conflicting reports over the effect of biofuels on land use, which have come to prominence this year.
A recent ENDS study of the national renewable energy action plans that are being submitted to the European Commission shows no member state except Finland planning to use a much larger share of biofuels than required by the EU by 2020.
The study was published as further pressure came from NGOs to scrap biofuels policy. Friends of the Earth Europe published research showing that Europe’s demand for biofuels is a major driver of land-grabbing in Africa. FoE looked at 11 African countries and found that at least five million hectares of land being acquired by foreign companies to produce biofuels, mainly for the European market.
In 2008 a World Bank report suggested a direct correlation between an increased use of biofuels and a 75% spike in global food prices in 2006-08. However, according to ENDS, a new report (see associated link) published by the World Bank in July does not appear to back up the earlier assertion of such a correlation.
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