"EU rethinks biofuels guidelines"

See the remarkable BBC article here.

Excerpt:

Europe's environment chief has admitted that the EU did not foresee the problems raised by its policy to get 10% of Europe's road fuels from plants.

Recent reports have warned of rising food prices and rainforest destruction from increased biofuel production.

The EU has promised new guidelines to ensure that its target is not damaging.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said it would be better to miss the target than achieve it by harming the poor or damaging the environment.
...
"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," Mr Dimas told the BBC.

HT: Jennifer Marohasy

A related story is here, entitled "Biofuels 'do more harm than good to environment' says Royal Society".

Excerpt:

Graham Wynne, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: “Today's report by the Royal Society makes it clear that these targets could fuel climate change, destroy forests and threaten livelihoods in developing countries. Our Government must take a lead in stopping this madness.”