EU Commission Admits Flawed Biofuels Policy; EU Consumers Pay Higher Cost of Living

The defenders of "global warming" hint at biofuels as renewable energy sources that may ensure a smooth transition from an oil-based polluting economy to a clean-fuel economy.


However, the defenders of "global warming" do not discuss the negative impacts of biofuels, such as the growing price that people will have to pay for food. Fortunately, the UK government distanced itself from imposing biofuels.


The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) established by the UK Government in November 1997, released a new document "Are biofuels sustainable?" on January 21, 2008 (see attached; also available from http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmenvaud/76/76.pdf).


EAC concludes that "1...most first generation biofuels have a detrimental impact on the environment overall" and that in general "biofuels produced from conventional crops should no longer receive support from the Government."


"2. The Government and EU’s neglect of biomass and other more effective policies to reduce emissions in favour of biofuels is misguided.The current policy and support framework must be changed to ensure that sustainable bioenergy resources maximise their potential to generate energy for the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions. In general biofuels produced from conventional crops should no longer receive support from the Government. Instead the Government should concentrate on the development of more efficient biofuel technologies that might have a sustainable role in the future."


Furthermore, according to the report Summary:


"3. EAC reports that the EU Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, recently admitted that the Commission did not foresee all the problems that EU biofuels policy would cause. He indicated that certification would be used to address the negative impacts of biofuels. This is not good enough. The Government should seek to ensure that EU policy changes to reflect the concerns raised in this report. This means implementing a moratorium on current targets until technology improves, robust mechanisms to prevent damaging land use change are developed, and international sustainability standards are agreed. Only then might biofuels have a role to play. In the meantime, other more effective ways of cutting emissions from road transport should be pursued. It will take considerable courage for the Government and EU to admit that the current policy arrangements for biofuels are inappropriate. The policy realignments that are required will be a test of the Government’s commitment to moving the UK towards a sustainable low carbon economy.


The policy realignments that are required will be a test of the Government’s commitment to moving the UK towards a sustainable low carbon economy."