SUSTAINABILITY
Biofuels Pro: 10% the right target Biofuels are vital by werner langen, mep
Europe needs biofuels in order to
reach its environmental targets. The
introducing the debate
of 10 percent biofuels in the transport
Key to plans by the European Commission to lead the world in bat-
ganic materials such as wheat, rape
source of energy. However, the “binding” target of 10% for the
Commission is right in setting a target
sector by 2020. Fuels made out of orseeds or sunflower oil are a key com-
ponent of Europe’s energy and environmental strategy, reducing both
greenhouse gas emissions as well as
Europe’s dependence on foreign oil and gas. Under the Commission’s
calculation, sugar beet ethanol saves almost 50 percent of typical
greenhouse gas emissions, sugar cane ethanol even 74 percent. Figures
for sunflower biodiesel and rape seed biodiesel show savings of 58 percent and 44 percent respectively. What’s more, the next generation of
tling climate change is the promotion of Biofuels as an alternative
use of biofuels in transport by 2020 has come under scrutiny, with the EEA Scientific Committee calling for it to be suspended. Other groups, alarmed at the effect of biofuel production on food prices
and the prospect of a food crisis, have called for it to be scrapped altogether. The Commission has been forced into a rethink, with a dramatic U-Turn a real possibility. Here we present two key MEPs at
the heart of the discussion and ask: Is the 10% target achievable or desirable?
biofuels will use new materials – often non-food-based – and will be
In doing so, biofuels add to a number of objectives which are key to
careful management and planning in order to find the best possible
fuels strengthens Europe’s security of energy supply and reduce the
change in the biofuels market towards greater sustainability. Second
Europe’s energy and environmental needs. Increasing the share of bio-
dependence on fossil fuels. Biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus also contributing to a cleaner local environment. Lastly, they bet-
ter protect soil and groundwater and reduce health hazards by using non-toxic substances. The potential of biofuels is huge, and should not
mix between food and energy production. Already today, we notice a
generation biofuel crops are produced from feedstocks other than food crops such as by-products in forestry, solid waste or recycled vegetable oils.
As the biofuel market expands, it is based less and less on cereals used
be discarded easily in the current discussion on food supplies and food
for food production. In addition, the obligation for European farmers
of foodstuffs and the European Commission’s proposed 10 percent tar-
while import duties on cereal have been suspended. Sustainability
prices. There is no correlation between the current increase in the price get of biofuels by 2020.
CAREFUL MANAGEMENT REQUIRED
True, the Commission’s estimates show a rise in agricultural commod-
to set aside 10 percent of their arable land has already been dropped, should also apply to biofuels imported from third countries, for example by introducing a certification procedure identifying those suppliers that do not use cereals for their biofuel production.
Biofuels and Europe’s supply with secure and affordable foodstuffs
ity prices by about 70 percent, most notably concerning wheat, maize
therefore need not be contrasting aims. If basic criteria for sustainabil-
demand in countries outside the EU, most notably China, India or Bra-
agricultural, environmental and energy policies.
and rice as well as dairy products. Driving this price increase is higher zil. Higher fuel and energy prices also make foodstuffs more expensive by adding to the price of diesel or fertilisers.
Biofuels on the other hand currently only account for about 1 per-
cent of Europe’s cereal production. Clearly therefore, biofuels cannot
be blamed for rising food prices in Europe. What soaring food prices do demonstrate, however, is that reaching the 10 percent target requires
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ity are being considered, both pave the way for a new stage in Europe’s
werner langen, mep
Werner Langen has been an MEP since 1994. Since 2006 he is a chairman of the CDU/CSU group in the European parliament.
EUROPEAN AGENDA 05/2008
Photo: private
more efficient in the extraction of their energy content.