Renewable energy targets may have increased emissions

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/renewable-energy-targets-may-have-increased-emissions/a-19126258

A recent study found that some biofuels produce three times the emissions of diesel, justifying an about-face in European Union policy in 2012. But biofuel companies say they are being punished based on bad science.

Renewable energy targets may have increased emissions
Dave Keating
18.03.2016

A controversial study, kept secret by the European Union's executive agency during discussions on the future of EU renewable energy policy, has concluded that the bloc's policy on renewable transport fuel has probably caused increased carbon emissions since it was put in place in 2009.

The European Commission requested the study in 2013, shortly after it decided to reverse course on a policy that required 10 percent of transport fuel to be from renewable sources by 2020.

In practice this translated into biofuel, which environmental campaigners say displace food crops and can cause more emissions because of changes to farming practices.

But the biofuel industry has maintained that the science for measuring the effects of such land use change is too inconclusive to base policy decisions on.

--

D'oh.