Indirect land-use change (ILUC)/Biofuels

Indirect land-use change (ILUC)/Biofuels

The EESC welcomes the Commission's proposal to limit "conventional biofuels" to a share of 5%, but does not think that the overall approach is consistent as it appears to pose several risks in relation to the policy goal of a greater use of residual products, by-products and waste products in fuel production. In particular, the EESC disagrees with the Commission's decision to base the measuring of land-use change (ILUC) exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions. Issues such as security of supply and the finite nature of fossil resources do not seem fit into this equation and, as a result, ILUC does not measure up as a policy of sustainability.

 

The EESC also considers that biofuels cannot be a lasting solution for the current widespread over‑consumption of energy as their limited availability does not make them more than a temporary solution and they should not distract attention from the unavoidable need to reduce the amount of energy we consume, regardless of where that energy comes from.

 

The Committee pleads for an enhanced cultivation of oil plants in Europe as they produce both protein feed and plant oil. It calls on the Commission to take into account the energy loss in conversion processes and to promote electromobility as a transport alternative clearly in sight.

 

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