Reducing the high-ILUC-risk threshold to progressively halt deforestation, starting with soy, and accelerating the phase-out trajectory
20.7.2023
Priority question for written answer P-002310/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Martin Häusling (Verts/ALE), Tiemo Wölken (S&D), Sira Rego (The Left)
The global deforestation rate remains at a dramatically high level, driving ecosystems to the brink of collapse. In 2021, the EU signed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration, which includes a commitment to working to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
In its Deforestation Regulation[1], the EU lists soy and palm oil as two of the biggest drivers of deforestation. Still, both are currently eligible for the biofuel support schemes under the Renewable Energy Directive[2] (RED).
During the recent RED revision, Parliament suggested immediately phasing out palm oil and reducing the high-ILUC[3]-risk threshold to include soy. The Commission is scheduled to assess whether to reduce the threshold and how to set the phase-out trajectory for high-ILUC-risk feedstocks by September 2023.
- 1.How does the Commission plan to achieve the EU’s target of halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030 without immediately reducing the high-ILUC-risk threshold to include soy and progressively reducing it to 0 % by 2030?
- 2.Several EU Member States have already phased out high-ILUC-risk commodities from their biofuel support schemes, demonstrating that more ambition is needed and possible. Why is the Commission hesitant to proceed with swiftly phasing out these feedstocks?
Submitted:20.7.2023
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 (OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206).
- [2] Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).
- [3] Indirect land-use change.