Land based biofuels limited at 6% in EU transport target

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has voted to limit the use of land-based biofuels that can count towards the 10% renewable energy target in the EU’s fuel mix at 6%. MEPs also voted to approve indirect land use change (ILUC) emissions accounting for biofuels after 2020.

The European Parliament has also widened the scope of the 6% cap to not only cover food-based biofuels but also energy crops – inedible crops that still compete for land with food crops – says the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP). Advanced biofuels, from algae or waste, for example, will account for 1.25% of energy consumption in EU transport by 2020 in the proposals.

Those in the biofuels industry said the reforms will put jobs at risk, but environmental groups said that they are too weak. Those in favour of the reforms praised the focus on land use, rather than crop type.

Friends of the Earth said that the reforms didn’t go far enough and that current policies are responsible for deforestation and increasing food prices.