With great success, Wetlands International has been strongly involved through the EU agrofuels coalition in the process towards the EU Renewable Energy Directive (adopted by the European Parliament on the 17th of December 2008). Now, we are involved in the implementation of this directive.
EU Biofuel Directive
The EU Renewable Energy Directive promotes the use of biofuels through a mandatory, binding target: by 2020, 10% of all fuels for (road) transport of EU memberstates needs to come from biofuels. The directive has though some good criteria for this: the EU will not recognise feedstocks from carbon rich wetlands as ‘renewables’. It also excludes the fuel 'peat' from the label ‘renewable energy’. (see our press release for more information).
Limiting impacts of biofuel production on land-use
These criteria are a significant success, in which Wetlands International played a mayor role. Still many other precious wetlands and ecosystems are at risk due to very weak criteria for limiting the impacts of biofuel production on land-use.
Wetlands International will remain involved in the implementation of the Directive to limit the impact on wetlands. Read more on palm oil and peatlands or watch the PowerPoint Presentation below.