Success on biofuels in the EP Industry committee
MEPs demand EU ban on palm oil biofuels
09.10.2006 |Margriet Samwel
The European parliament’s industry committee has called for an EU-wide ban on the use of biofuels derived from palm oil, which is mainly produced in south-east Asia.
The move reflects environmental concerns that Europe’s rising demand for green fuels could drive deforestation and biodiversity loss, as developing countries clear rainforests to make way for new palm plantations.
MEPs called for the ban in their draft for the parliament’s response to the European commission’s proposals for an EU transport biofuels strategy, adopted in February (EED 08/02/06).
Other amendments included a call for a "mandatory and comprehensive" certification scheme to ensure sustainable production of biofuels. MEPs also called for EU governments to promote biofuels through a coordinated taxation policy.
The committee approved a warning from the parliament’s environment committee against over-reliance on biomass energy from waste. They argued that growing enthusiasm for green fuels must not be used as an excuse to promote waste incineration over more resource efficient options such as reuse, recycling and composting.
MEPs rejected the environment committee’s recommendation that the parliament should call for an even higher EU transport biofuels target. EU leaders backed a goal of 8% by 2015 in March, compared with the current objective of 5.75% by 2010. The environment committee had called for the former to be increased to 10%.
European parliament industry committee
