19 March 2010 | Luca Del Buono
Biofuel, Food and agriculture, Transportation, Europe

 

As the European Union gets closer to its deadline of 2020 – a time at which 10% of those fuels used in transportation are to be biofuels – the EU needs to re-examine how biofuels truly impact the environment. Several negative implications are associated with the acquirement of biofuels, made clear by those levying for a better environment, including: deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, greater food prices, and land issues.

One anti-poverty charity states that the EU's target could leave 100 million people starving, as the EU's goal is likely to heighten competition for land. This is not the first time that biofuels have been responsible for leaving people hungry. In 2008, biofuels were blamed for causing 30% of the increase in food prices worldwide. This left approximately 30 million people hungry and 100 million people poor.

The European Biodiesel Board, or EBB, is of the opinion that the renewable directive must be continued in order to emphasize the importance of cleaner fuels, but environmental lobbyists do not agree, as they feel that manufacturing biofuels is harmful. Currently, a large variety of biofuels are in existence, created in some form from biomass. These biofuels have to save 35% or more in emissions than fossil fuels to be considered assisting in the EU's 2020 goal.

At the moment, the European Commission is underway forming fresh emission reference values that will pertain to petrol, as well as oil-based diesel. Unconventional oil, which is responsible for emitting almost three times more than regular crude oil, is only used in approximately 5% of the worldwide manufacturing of petroleum, but this number is set to go up. The European Biodiesel Board explained that without precise reference values, Europe's biofuel industry, worth a total of five billion euros a year, could suffer. It is possible that as soon as next week, EU governments could receive a proposal pertaining to this transportation essential.

The great demand for biofuels within and outside of Europe does have the potential to be detrimental. In 2008, it was revealed by the EBB that the EU is responsible for the manufacturing of 65% of the biodiesel used in the world. The EBB also mentioned that out of all of the biofuels utilized in the EU, 78% of biofuels were biodiesel.

The creation of biodiesel uses up natural resources, as it is formed from different vegetable oils. It is necessary that the EU seriously reflects upon its 2020 target in order to ensure that the set goal is really beneficial for the environment.

Author: Katie Graziano | Climate Action

Image Provided by:
Jonathan Clitheroe | Flickr

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