European Biodiesel Board publishes 2024 manifesto for ‘made in Europe’ transition toward carbon-neutral transport

The European Biodiesel Board announced March 26 that the association has published its manifesto, setting out legislative priorities for the EU biodiesel industry in the coming years.

In order to reach the EU climate targets, decarbonization of transport will remain a big challenge, as demand for transport continues to increase.

The manifesto therefore highlights how domestic, sustainable biofuels can immediately contribute to a low-carbon transport sector.

“The upcoming EU legislators must find the right balance and promote an inclusive, pragmatic and affordable climate policy without sacrificing the ambition of a net-zero EU by 2050,” EBB stated.

According to the Eurobarometer surveys, over the past five years the cost of living and climate change have consistently featured in the five most-important issues facing the EU.

“This confirms that the EU cannot afford to choose between climate and the economy, between sustainability and affordability—we must do both,” EBB said.

“In the run-up to the European elections, sustainability will be one of the most important topics for elected officials,” said EBB Secretary General Xavier Noyon. “The biggest challenge remains the decarbonization of transport, as the need for transport continues to grow. Biofuels, sourced from sustainable bioproducts, continue to be the widest and most available alternative to fossil fuels.”

Key recommendations

The European Biodiesel Board’s key recommendations for the 2024-’29 EU legislative term include:

1. A consistent strategy for biofuels and the bioeconomy: 

• Undertake a strategic review of biobased raw materials in Europe, similarly to what was done for other raw materials.

• Review the limit set for the contribution of waste biofuels to the Renewable Energy Directive transport target, taking into account the addition of feedstocks.

• Recognize the benefits brought by crop-based biodiesel to EU’s strategic food and feed autonomy, including in the upcoming protein strategy.

• Align the EU Taxonomy with the RED to promote investments in all sustainable biodiesel.

2. A pragmatic and fully fledged integration of biodiesel in the transport sector’s decarbonization policies

Up to 2050, electrification, hydrogen and other solutions will need to be complemented by biodiesel blends in road transport. This requires:

• A comprehensive vision for renewable fuels beyond 2030, including the adoption of sectorial renewable targets for 2040 and subtargets for road transport in the scope of the RED and the effort-sharing directive.

• An attractive and harmonized taxation policy that further displaces the demand for fossil diesel towards renewable fuels.

• Reviewed CO2-emission standards for new vehicles (light and heavy duty) to recognize the role of all renewable fuels in decarbonizing transport.

3. Decisive trade measures and strict sustainability standards enforcement

As the world’s largest market for biofuels, the EU is attracting more and more imports. EU biodiesel producers must be on a level playing field with their non-EU counterparts, which requires:

• Strict enforcement of trade-defense measures against dumping and unfair subsidies.

• Review of the sustainability verification regime in the RED to ensure that imports comply with the same strict certification criteria as European biofuels, and that fraud is prosecuted.

The manifesto is available here.