The Proposed EU Directive on Promoting the Use of Energy from Renewable Resources

The pursuit of targets which are clearly infeasible within the intended time period store up trouble for political systems, as well as failing to meet their goals. They raise questions about the target culture and its unintended consequences. There are specific concerns about food availability/prices and environmental impacts, especially flowing from the biofuels target. Biomass and biofuels exploitation were implicated in food riots in 37 countries during 2008. Failure to meet targets risks exposing some renewble energy sectors to increased hostility. The end result is unlikely to be consistent with greenhouse gas reduction goals