London, 29 March 2011

Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system:  EU Transport White Paper has ambitious decarbonisation targets to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

In Europe, all sectors covered by the Kyoto Protocol have decreased their GHG emissions since 1990 except one: transport. Transport emissions have increased since then by almost 30% and now represent over one fifth of total GHG emissions in the EU.

ePURE, the industry association representing European renewable ethanol producers, has welcomed the adoption of a new Transport White Paper by the European Commission. “This fact strongly underlines why it is vital that Europe sticks to biofuels - a strong European renewable ethanol sector will help us to reduce our oil dependency and carbon emissions in tandem. Renewable ethanol production in Europe is increasing, and our industry is ready to play a vital role in decarbonising EU transport”, said Mr. Rob Vierhout, ePURE's Secretary General.

The Commission Staff Working Document contains several positive conclusions for biofuels: by 2050 biofuels could represent around 40% of energy consumption in long distance road freight; biofuels could be utilised in railway transport; second and third generation biofuels will be important in the energy needs in future aviation; maritime transport could be powered by biofuels.

Vierhout added: “The White Paper confirms that in some transport modes biofuels are the only option to go low-carbon. We want the Commission to come forward with concrete legislative proposals that will support European ethanol producers in the context that biofuels is the only-here-and-now solution to fuelling the European transport sector sustainably”.

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Attachments:

EC Transport Roadmap

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