MEPs vote to cap crop-derived biofuels

A draft law to cap biofuels derived from crops was passed by the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday.

The new rules aim to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the growing use of farm land for biofuel crops. Using farm land for such crops reduces the area available for food. This adds to pressure to free up more land, e.g. through deforestation, to grow more food -- a process known as indirect land use change (ILUC).

However, deforestation also increases GHGs, which may cancel out part or even all of the beneficial effects of using biofuels.

Current legislation requires European Union (EU) member states to ensure that renewable energy accounts for at least 10 percent of energy consumption in transport by 2020.

The new law says that so-called first-generation biofuels, i.e. from crops grown on agricultural land, should account for no more than 7 percent of transport energy consumption by 2020.

The draft text is effectively a compromise designed to encourage investment in "advanced" biofuels, such as from waste and residues, as well as new sources such as seaweed, while not undermining Europe's conventional biofuels industry.

Finnish Liberal MEP Nils Torvalds, who is steering the legislation through Parliament, said he was pleased with having got the green light from members for "a very technical and 'ideological' dossier".

But he also wondered whether the law was tough enough. "We had much higher goals, both in terms of GHG reductions and technological progress," he said. "If Europe doesn't move forward, it will be left behind."

Fuel suppliers will have report to EU countries and the European Commission the estimated level of GHG emissions caused by ILUC. The Commission must then report and publish data on ILUC-related emissions, and outline the scope for including these figures in their sustainability measures.

Matthias Groote, spokesperson on climate, environment and food safety for the Socialists & Democrats group in the EP, said: "This legislation will improve the current status, but is in no way satisfactory. We managed to introduce a review clause, and we intend to come back with our proposals for a more efficient and ethical use of biofuels."

"We were able to bring legal certainty to the sector, which is needed for innovative investments in biofuels," he said. "There are already investments for research and development underway for biofuels produced from waste or residues rather than food crops."

EU member states will have to set a national target, no later than 18 months after the EU directive enters into force, for the share of advanced biofuels in total transport consumption. Member states must enact the legislation by 2017. Endit