Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

seaweed via Shutterstock

We should be using more seaweed to power things, MEPs say

MEPs want a cap placed on the use of less environmentally friendly biofuels, and a switch to fuels derived from seaweed and other sources.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT is pushing for a cap on the use of traditional biofuels, and a switchover to new ones sourced from alternative sources — like seaweed and waste.

MEPs voted in favour of draft legislation on the issue this week; it’s aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that result from the the turnover of agricultural land used to produce biofuels.

Research has shown that the increasing use of agricultural land for production of the fuels can result a greater level of emissions, cancelling out some of the benefits.

According to current legislation, member states must ensure that renewable energy accounts for at least 10 per cent of energy consumption in transport by 2020. But MEPs are now calling for a cap of 6 per cent on traditional biofuels used, and say that ‘advanced biofuels’ — sourced from seaweed and certain types of waste — should account for 2.5 per cent of that target.

Labour MEP for Dublin Emer Costello is amongst the parliament members backing the change. Speaking to RadioEP.ie, Costello said that traditional biofuels were causing social and environmental destruction in the developing world.

Food fuel hasn’t been as environmentally friendly as we thought, and in fact its damaging , causing a massive amount of starvation in the developing world.

“So we are saying now that we need to overhaul that policy, we need to have a radical rethink about that policy that we had introduced.”

The EU is the largest producer of biofuels on the planet, generating 53 per cent of all biodiesel in 2010, according to a study by Worldwatch.org.

Read: Cost of alcohol, eating out and going to school pushes inflation to 0.2 per cent >

Read: EU probe into Ireland tax deals with multinationals >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
27 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds