Commission speeds up work on biofuels' impact

Publication date: 22 April 2009

The European Commission is planning to bring forward by nine months legislative proposals to quantify the impact of indirect land use change when calculating emissions from biofuels, ENDS has learned.

Indirect land use change refers to the displacement of crops and grazing animals to new areas by increased biofuel cultivation, and the resulting increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Earlier this month a commission official told a conference in London that the EU executive was aiming to complete its proposals on indirect land use change by March 2010. The initial deadline set in the EU renewable energy directive is December.

The commission is accelerating its work because under the renewables law EU governments must submit national renewables action plans by June 2010. It is keen to table its proposals on indirect land use change before member states' plans are finalised, ENDS understands.

Biofuels webpage: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/biofuels_en.htm

Source: ENDS