EU Biofuels & land in Africa

The European Union continues to promote agrofuels crops which require land in Africa. Experts have just published a report where they explain that 'biofuels' will be the main solution "to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050". Biofuels will be combined with electricity (batteries and hydrogen / fuel cells) and completed with other alternative fuels.

While the European Commission is preparing to submit a report on the impact of "indirect land use change" caused by biofuels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and several other studies review downwards the previous estimates, by including the use of agricultural by-products and organic wastes. For reminder, many organizations have used the factor ILUC to make pressure on European legislation in order to reduce the number of first generation biofuels eligible.

In March 2011, some companies and governments will start the certification process developed by the 'Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels' (RSB) drawn from academics and representatives of UN, private sector and NGOs (not enough). The 'Standard RSB' is a set of criteria and indicators of sustainability based on twelve environmental and social principles. It has the merit of covering the entire production chain from farm to tank, while the RedCert and CCSI certificates recognized in Germany do not. The EC has not yet said whether it recognizes this certification.