19/10/2012 (New Europe) - Greenpeace welcomes the European Commission’s decision to finally recognize the severe side-effects of biofuels made from palm oil, rapeseed and soybeans and other food crops, however, it says that its long-awaited proposal to clean up Europe’s biofuels policy is less than effective. It also calls the Commission to revise it immediately as to respond to the full climate change impact of biofuels.

Greenpeace EU transport policy director Franziska Achterberg stated:“The Commission finally wants to rein in harmful biofuels, but will do nothing to reverse the biomess. If this proposal becomes law, biofuels more damaging to the climate than crude oil will still be used to meet green transport targets.”

The Commission has proposed a five percent cap on the amount of biofuels made from food crops but it does not require governments or fuel suppliers to account for indirect emissions from biofuels. As a result, biofuels with higher emission will continue to be used and according to Greenpeace the cap is too high to be effective.

In addition, although the proposal introduces incentives for second generation biofuels produced from waste and residues, it does not provide sufficient protection to the environment. Finally, a shift to energy savings and more renewable power in road and rail transport is vital for decreasing the use of biofuels in transportation.

Belinda Calaguas, head of Campaigns and Advocacy Unit at development NGO Acionaid, has stated during a recent interview to New Europe, that the Commission’s proposal does not offer any solution to the biofuels problem but instead it confuses the situation further. She said that although it is important that the Commission has acknowledged the problem, the measures announced yesterday are not sufficient because in the end they do not prohibit biofuels’ use altogether.