ePURE welcomes White Paper targeting transport sector emissions

The White Paper, titled 'Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system,' has been introduced by the European Commission and welcomed by ePURE.

The White Paper recommends that Europe reduce its dependence on imported oil and cut its carbon emissions in the transportation sector by 60% by 2050. Transport emissions have increased since then by almost 30% and now represent over one fifth of total GHG emissions in the EU.

'The 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', says Rob Vierhout, ePURE's secretary general.

The White Paper was accompanied by the Commission Staff Working Document, which contains a number of 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 adds: '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 sustainability.