As part of the goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the European Union is increasingly directing the auto industry towards electric drives. As a result, in addition to classic fossil fuels, certain types of biofuels, including soy-based biodiesel, are under increasing pressure.
According to the draft of the new regulation, fuel produced from soybean oil should be classified as a high-risk raw material for the environment. Such a decision would mean that oil companies could no longer count on soybean oil as a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy, according to German Spiegel.
The aim of the measure is to reduce the cultivation of crops that result from the clearing of forests and other natural ecosystems important for climate balance. According to the proposal, the share of soybean oil in the total fuel consumption in the EU should be reduced to zero by 2030.
A similar ban already applies to palm oil from plantations created by the destruction of tropical rainforests. Recent research, however, indicates that soybean cultivation is almost as harmful, especially in regions such as the American Midwest, Brazil and Argentina.
The German Association for Environmental Protection welcomed the announced move of the European Commission and called for its implementation as soon as possible. A study previously commissioned by this association showed that biodiesel can in certain cases have a more harmful impact on the climate than conventional diesel.
“Biofuels produced from soy are twice as bad for the planet as fossil fuels,” said Cian Delaney, an expert at Transport & Environment, warning that serious environmental problems are often hidden under the guise of “green solutions”.
(Vijesti.ba)
