Opinion by Jos Dings - T&E Director
The air in Brussels is thick with talk about the need to boost economic growth. As if any proof were needed, the French and Greek elections have once again demonstrated that people don’t like austerity. So talking about growth is politically quite obvious.
More information, and registration coming soon.
This briefing gives an overview of reducing transport fuel emissions within the EU's fuel quality directive. In particular it examines the importance of giving high carbon sources such as tar sands and coal-to-liquid higher carbon values.
Two EU laws adopted in 2009 promote the use of biofuels in the EU, ostensibly for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. But both the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) could lead to higher, not lower greenhouse gas emissions unless the issue of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) is resolved.
Full programme coming soon.
The Commission is postponing a decision on how to assess the climatic impact of non-conventional sources of transport fuel such as tar sands and oil shale. A decision was expected in June, but Brussels has ordered an assessment of the impact of giving high-carbon sources a higher climate rating, which means no final judgement will be made until next year. The postponement came just days after T&E published a study saying reducing greenhouse gas emissions from petrol and diesel production will cost less to administer than the oil industry says.
What role for biofuels and unconventional oil? A lunch debate hosted by Romana Jordan, MEP (EPP), Richard Seeber, MEP (EPP), Chris Davies, MEP (ALDE) and Linda McAvan, MEP (S&D)
