The European Parliament's environment committee has backed efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%, 60% and 80% for 2030, 2040 and 2050 respectively.
The European Commission targets were published in the draft report ‘Roadmap to a low carbon economy in 2050’, written by Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies.
Responding, NFU Brussels spokeswoman Katy Lee said that farmers could be at the centre of climate efforts by increasing food and fuel production sustainably.
She said: “The agriculture sector is committed to making a realistic contribution to mitigating climate change. For example, the NFU, together with other representatives of agriculture in England, launched a Greenhouse Gas Action Plan last year which sets out a range of actions to reduce emissions without compromising domestic production.
“We already have a range of successful initiatives in place - for improving agricultural productivity, better nutrient management, animal health and soil management, the production of environmentally friendly renewable energy and the transfer of knowledge and research.”
Chris Davies’ report also called for the Commission to introduce indirect land use change (ILUC) factors in order to take account of the GHG emissions attributable to changes in land-use patterns caused by biofuels production. But Ms Lee said this could set a dangerous precedent.
“We are opposed legislative proposals that will harm EU competitiveness, especially when they are based on the current imprecise models and often lead by political motivations," added Ms Lee.
"We believe domestic biofuel production can drive investment not only in technology and infrastructure but that the bio-refining of European crops provides an important contribution to the food sector through production of high protein co-products alongside the green fuel.” she said. The Davies’ report was adopted with 32 MEPs in favour, 24 against and 5 abstentions. All MEPs are due to vote on the report in March.
- Andrew Bevan - 09/02/2012
Why does the NFU have to pander to liberal extremists! Does anybody realise what even a pointless cut in CO2 means have the cars on the road no heating in our homes and a shortage of food because there would be few tractors left to work the land. All for a cut in a minute trace gas called Co2