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Parliamentary question - E-005319/2016Parliamentary question
E-005319/2016

Biofuels and climate change

Question for written answer E-005319-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
María Teresa Giménez Barbat (ALDE)

Directive 2009/28/EC establishes that 20% of the energy produced and sold by countries in the Union should come from renewable sources by 2020. It also sets the objective that, as a means of combating climate change, 10% of fuel used for transport should come from renewable sources.

To achieve those figures, the use of biofuels, produced from palm oil, among others, is being supported. However, the production of palm oil is causing serious deforestation problems in areas of great ecological value, and use of those fuels could triple greenhouse gas emissions. This means that biofuels are not helping to resolve the issue of climate change.

Will the Commission change the criteria so that biofuels do not go towards the 10% target?

Does the Commission expect a biofuel alternative to emerge that will enable countries to meet those targets?