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PUBLICATION: FARMERS GUARDIAN
DATE JULY 15 2005
HEADLINE; UK FAILS TO DELIVER ON GREEN ENERGY TARGETS
The European Commission has started infraction proceedings against the UK for failing to meet the green fuel charges just days after Tony Blair pledged to lead the world in combating climate change.
The UK has been asked to explain itself having fallen short of the EU 2% indicative target for biofuel use in 2005.
The Commission is unhappy the UK has set its own target of just 0.3%.
This should come as a severe embarrassment to the Prime Minister after he pushed climate change to the top of the agenda at the G8 summit. Afterwards Mr Blair said it had been agreed that climate change is a man made problem that it needed to be tackled with urgency.
Later Defra secretary Margaret Beckett promised that climate change would continue to be the top priority throughout the UK`s presidency of the EU.
However according to the commission, the Government is not backing up its noble words with actions.
It has sent out a `Reasoned Opinion` and a letter of formal notice to the UK , along with five other member states also accused of failing to implement EU biofuels legislation, outlining why it’s failure to meet the target is unacceptable.
The government will have to respond, explaining its reasons for its poor performance and how it intends to address the problem.
The commissioner in charge said” Biodiesel made from oil and bioethanol made from grain and sugar crops are two of the few options available to replace oil based transport fuels, he said.
“They tackle climate change by avoiding emissions of greenhouse gases; they diversify Europe’s sources of energy and reduce dependence on oil imports; and they offer new markets for European agriculture, “he said.
It is timely as the Department of Transport is just completing a feasibility study of the RTFO, which would legally force oil companies to sell a minimum amount of biofuel each year.
The Country Land and Business Association said the Government has a ` once in generation opportunity` to support the domestic renewable energy sector.
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