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Revision to Biofuel Obligation Risks an Environmental Own-Goal |
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Submitted:�21�June�2007 |
| The Renewable Energy Association has today welcomed Government�s commitment to set out a clear timeframe for introducing a carbon-based Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation and safeguards over sustainability. But the industry is sounding a loud note of caution over whether the two-year timescale suggested today can deliver any meaningful environmental benefits. |
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Commenting on today�s announcement, Clare Wenner, Head of Transport Biofuels, said:
�The industry has made it clear that we need the certainty of clear timeframes. Government has always indicated that it was minded to move to a carbon-based obligation, and now we have clarity on the way forward.�
�However, the Government and other parties should not be tempted to believe that the announcements made today will address the hugely important concerns over the environmental performance of biofuels. Carbon incentives can only be effective when they are based on real data, obtained through practical experience of growing feedstock and producing biofuels. The expectation that we can obtain robust, reliable and verified data from the vast world-wide range of biofuels supply chains within 2 years is frankly unrealistic.
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�The proposals announced today mean that much of the reporting mechanism will be highly dependent upon default numbers, derived from academic work and not real-world experience. The reputation of the industry depends upon information that biofuel suppliers, the Government and the public can believe in, not a series of desktop studies. With the best will in the world this cannot happen overnight.
�Many are fearful that the aggressive timescales suggested by the Government today will simply present an incentive for inaccurate and erroneous reporting. This would be an environmental own-goal.�
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| See the press release below |
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 �Related Web Site(s) |
Government Press Release
www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=293554&NewsAreaID;=2&Nav; . .
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A letter announcing the consultation
www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/rtforeporting/rtfoletter
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Consultation Documents
www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/rtforeporting/
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