The European Union’s 2003 Biofuels Directive instructs EU members to “ensure that a minimum proportion of biofuels and other renewable fuels is placed on their markets.” Countries were left to determine their own targets, but the Directive established “reference values” of 2% for 2005 and 5.75% for 2010. Most members adopted the reference values but some departed from the Directive’s recommendations (UK, 0.3% in 2005, 5% in 2011; Sweden, 3% in 2005; Czech Republic, 3.7% in 2006, 5.55% in 2010; Italy, 1% in 2005, 2.5% in 2010).

Then in February 2007, the EU Council adopted a “10% binding minimum target” to be achieved by 2020. However, says the EU, “the binding character of this target is appropriate subject to production being sustainable, second-generation biofuels becoming commercially available and the Fuel Quality Directive being amended accordingly to allow for adequate levels of blending.” What the heck does that mean?

According to the Clean Air Task Force, “Some analysts suggest that these caveats will become deal-breakers, because substantial technological hurdles stand in the way of second-generation biofuels and because it is impossible to demonstrate that biofuels are produced in a sustainable manner using the analytic tools that are currently available.” Source: Clean Air Task Force, Leaping Before They Looked: Lessons from Europe’s Experience with the 2003 Biofuels Directive, October 2007, pp. 6-7.

As my colleague Christopher Horner often points out, when it comes to global warming and energy policy, Europe has a gift for pretending that promises are facts even while trimming and backsliding from its promises.