EC expected to approve 7 certification schemes for biofuels

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Press release by Client Earth, Friends of the Earth Europe, Fern and Corporate Europe Observatory

Forimmediate release – 18 July 2011

EuropeanCommission expected to approve seven certification schemes forbiofuels without public scrutiny

18July 2011: The European Commission is expected to tomorrow(19/7/11)release the names of seven voluntary certification schemes approvedto certify biofuels according to the `sustainability criteria'set out in the Renewable Energy Directive. This follows a lawsuitfiled by environmental law organisationClientEarth,Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE), FERN and Corporate EuropeObservatory (CEO) against the Commission's refusal to provide accessto information regarding the approval of such schemes.

Thiswas the thirdtimethe Commission has been sued for lack of transparency on biofuels.For more information see notes to editors.

JanetPritchard, Climate & Forests Programme Leader, ClientEarth, said:"The way that this has been handled underlines the Commission'spractice of shutting out meaningful public participation in thedevelopment of its biofuels policy. These schemes are expected toplay a role in ensuring compliance with the Renewable EnergyDirective's sustainability criteria, yet we still have no specificinformation about the substance of the applications submitted bythese schemes or the standards against which they were assessed inorder to be approved.

"Today'sannouncement still does not provide the transparency required by theAarhus Convention, which guarantees all EU citizens and environmentalorganisations the right to participate in environmentaldecision-making and the right to information necessary for effectiveparticipation."

Oneof the schemes approved is the highly controversial Round Table onResponsible Soy (RTRS). This scheme, an initiative of the soyindustry, has been strongly criticisedby environmental organisations.

RobbieBlake, Friends of the Earth Europe's campaigner on biofuels, said:"Industry-led schemes tocertify crops like soy biofuels as `sustainable' or `responsible'are highly controversial and are likely to mislead the public. 

"Theapproval of weak schemes such as the Round Table on Responsible Soymakes a mockery of any attempts to make EU biofuel policysustainable. The public will be conned and the EU will endorse the'greenwashing' of large-scale soy monocultures damaging people andplanet.  This scheme will not prevent deforestation fromhappening in South America, fails to protect local communities, andeven allows the use of genetically modified soy. Endorsing suchschemes shows a real need for public scrutiny, not secrecy, aroundthe issue of biofuels."

ENDS

Notesto editors:

• InMarch GMWatch, Friends of the Earth and Corporate Observatory Europewrote a critical assessment of Roundtable on Responsible Soy, anorganisation that has been approved to run one of the schemes. Youcan readtheir report here.

• Thelawsuit

InMay environmental law organisation ClientEarth, Friends of the EarthEurope (FOEE), FERN and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) filed alawsuit against the Commission's refusal to provide access toinformation in decisions relating to the sustainability of Europe'sbiofuels policy. This sought to annul the Commission's decision torefuse public access to information about voluntary certificationschemes used to ensure compliance with EU criteria on biofuelssustainability.

TheRenewable Energy Directive sets a 10 per cent target for use ofrenewable energy in the transport sector - expected to be met byincreased production of biofuels. Increased pressure on land drivenby the surge in demand for biofuels is resulting in increasedgreenhouse gas emissions as well as threatening vulnerablecommunities and biodiversity. The sustainability criteria areintended to prevent the most severe environmental impacts byrequiring biofuels to protect high carbon stock areas andbiodiversity standards set out in the Directive - social impacts areignored.

Voluntarycertification schemes approved by the Commission are expected to playa role in monitoring compliance with the sustainability criteria setout in the Renewable Energy Directive. The EU has now approved someschemes, but the process has lacked transparency.

ClientEarthhas also sued the Commission on two previous occasions in relation toits failure to provide access to key studies assessing indirect landuse changes, and consequent greenhouse gas emissions, likely toresult from EU biofuels policy. Decisions in these cases are stillpending.

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