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European Commission withholds research on biofuel policy

The European Commission is accused of withholding research on the environmental impact of EU biofuels polices. (Reuters, EU Observer, European Voice)

Four Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Commission on Monday to gain access to a study that assessed the environmental impacts of an EU policy that requires member states to use renewable energy sources to meet 10% of their transport needs by 2020. Under the rules adopted last year, it is expected that this target will be met in large part through the increased use of biofuels.

The study carried out for the Commission by the International Food Policy Research Institute, based in Washington DC, assessed what the environmental impacts would be if member states used biofuels to meet 7% of their road transport fuel needs by 2020.

It analyses the impact of this level of biofuel use on indirect land-use change: where forests are converted into cropland to replace those lost to biofuel production. Environmental groups are concerned that such practices can lead to an increase in carbon emissions.

The study is part of an assessment that the European Commission is undertaking to examine the impact of the EU policy on indirect land use changes. The Commission’s assessment is due to be completed by 31 December this year, and could result in changes to the current EU rules if it is found that existing policies would have detrimental impacts to the environment.

The legal case against the Commission says, “The Commission is withholding scientific evidence demonstrating the true environmental impacts of EU biofuel policies. The concern underlying policymaking on biofuels is that the Commission is conforming the science to the policy, not the policy to the science.”


The case is being brought by ClientEarth, a not-for-profit group of environmental lawyers which has its headquarters in London; Transport and Environment a sustainable transport campaign group based in Brussels; European Environmental Bureau, a campaign group also based in Brussels; and BirdLife International, a group of conservation organisations with its headquarters in the UK.

According to Reuters, this is not the first time the Commission has withheld research on its biofuels policy.

Nor is it the first time the Commission has stifled research that puts its policy proposals in a bad light (See Nature’s news story on the EU’s chemcial’s policy).

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