EU: Environmental protection will be a priority in the development of biofuels

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EU: Environmental protection will be a priority in the development of biofuels. Last March, the European Commission set out strategic goals for the development of biofuels. However, as soon as this plan was introduced, it faced opposition from many people, who argued that the development of biofuels would be harmful to the environment. In response to the doubts, the European Commission issued an official reply yesterday. A spokesperson for the EU’s energy affairs said yesterday that the EU will continue to adhere to the biofuel development targets set last year, which aim to achieve 10% of vehicle fuel consumption coming from biofuel ethanol by 2020. In response to external criticism, the European Commission admitted that it had underestimated the potential negative effects of developing biofuels, and said it would announce a set of guidelines related to environmental protection on the 23rd of this month to ensure the sustainable development of biofuels. A EU energy spokesperson said, “In the development of biofuels, we will avoid causing damage to the environment or minimize such damage as much as possible.” ” Previously, many environmentalists pointed out that, compared to traditional fuels such as gasoline, although biofuels emit fewer greenhouse gases, they cause greater damage to biodiversity and farmland. Furthermore, the vigorous development of biofuels has also objectively contributed to rising food prices. Taking all these factors into account, many people believe that developing biofuels is not worth the effort. The European Commission has consistently opposed this claim.