Britain's Biofuel Target Could Create More Harm Then Good
The British government admitted that its target to double the use of biofuels by 2020 will dramatically add to worldwide carbon emissions.
In accordance with a European Union directive, Britain has promised to source 10 percent of its transport fuel from biofuels by 2020. According to a recently released Institute for European Environmental Policy study, in order to meet that target Europe will need "to cultivate an area the size of Belgium" resulting in an annual carbon emission increase of 56 million tons.
In the wake of this and other scientific studies, Britain is asking the European Commission to reconsider its biofuel mandates.
"Like other EU member states, the UK is required to source 10 per cent of its transport energy from renewable sources by 2020, however I agree that the environmental benefits of biofuels can only be realized if they are produced in a sustainable way," said British Transport Minister Norman Baker.
Read the full article at The Independent: Biofuel plan will cause rise in carbon emissions
Image Credit: TheFriendlyFiend via Flickr
Joseph Baker is a freelance writer living in Vancouver BC. His areas of focus include renewable energy, sustainability and climate change.
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