Directive on the Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport

Directive 2003/30/EC
European Union directive
Title Directive on the Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport
Made by European Parliament & Council
Journal reference L123, 17 June 2003, pp. 42–46
Other legislation
Replaced by Directive 2009/28/EC
Repealed

The Directive on the Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport, officially 2003/30/EC and popularly better known as the biofuels directive is a European Union directive for promoting the use of biofuels for EU transport. The directive entered into force in May 2003, and stipulates that national measures must be taken by countries across the EU aiming at replacing 5.75% of all transport fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) with biofuels by 2010.

The directive also called for an intermediate target of 2% by 31 December 2005. The target of 5.75% is to be met by 31 December 2010. The percentages are calculated on the basis of energy content of the fuel and apply to petrol and diesel fuel for transport purposes placed on the markets of member states. Member states are encouraged to take on national "indicative" targets in conformity with the overall target.

Legislation

Results

A 2007 progress report found that biofuel only held a 1% share, not reaching the target of 2% or the combined goals of the member nations, which was 1.4%.[6] The 2010 target was officially replaced when the Directive 2003/30/EC was repealed by Directive 2009/28/EC which contained a target of 10% by 2020.[7]

Petroleum industry accused of undermining

On 2008-04-29, Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) released a report stating that oil companies are falsely claiming that the target proposed by the European Commission in revisions to the Fuel Quality Directive is unachievable.[8]

Criticism

On 14 January 2008 the EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas announced the EU is rethinking its biofuel program due to environmental and social concerns[9] and new guidelines must ensure that EU targets are not damaging. The EU official was particularly concerned about the impact of biofuels on rising food prices, rainforest destruction, notably from palm oil production and concern for rich firms driving poor people off their land to convert it to fuel crops. On 18 January 2008 the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee raised similar concerns, and called for a moratorium on biofuel targets.[10] This position echoes the stance of many non-governmental organisations and environmentalists.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "on alternative fuels for road transportation and on a set of measures to promote the use of biofuels" (PDF). November 2001. EU Commission. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/doc/07_biofuels_progress_report_en.pdf
  3. ↑ 37420 51..51
  4. ↑ Microsoft Word – fuelqualityIAlong.doc
  5. ↑ http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:076:0010:0019:EN:PDF
  6. ↑ http://www.ebb-eu.org/legis/biofuels%20progress%20report%20100107%20provisional%20version.pdf
  7. ↑ http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1405390611862&uri=CELEX:02009L0028-20130701
  8. ↑ FoE Europe – Press Release
  9. ↑ EU rethinks biofuels guidelines By Roger Harrabin bbc.co.uk Monday, 14 January 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7186380.stm
  10. ↑ "Are Biofuels Sustainable" (PDF). January 2008. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  11. ↑ EU renewables policy: doubts and flaws http://www.tni.org/detail_page.phtml?act_id=17839

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, June 12, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.