EU to review targets on biofuels in light of detrimental effects

THE EU will have to review its plan to have 10% of its transport fuel from biofuels by 2020 after warnings of huge social and environmental side effects.

The Taoiseach and other EU member state leaders agreed just months ago to have biofuels play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions. But groups like Oxfam and the OECD say the decision is pushing up food prices, destroying rain forests and will do little to fight climate change.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “We have seen that the environmental problems caused by biofuels and also the social problems are bigger than we thought they were. So we have to move very carefully.