Release
The third SUMMIT on Sustainable Biofuels in Madrid (22-24 April) could not start on a more opportune moment for policy makers, NGO’s, industry and many other stakeholders.
MADRID NEXT WEEK: THE DECISIVE DEBATE ON BIOFUELS FUTURE IN EUROPE?
Last week all media where filled with news and opinions about the sustainability of renewable energies. Never opinions stood so far apart between those in favour and those against the development and use of renewable energy. Especially Biofuels are running into deep crisis after dumping practises from USA on the European market and now due to a sudden change in policy from countries like Germany who only last weekend announced that it will not impose an increase from 5% blend to a 10% blend in ethanol for 2009. Greenpeace and other NGO’s directly asked the EU to step back on its goals for Biofuels and Oxfam asked British Prime Minister Brown to do the same thing now.
Many say this is a well synchronised lobby from the petrol industry to keep on top of energy developments. Scientists and specialists from many branches come up almost daily with new studies which show either that Biofuels make a lot of sense or the other way around. Keeping track of all information and above all, separating real information from pseudo facts and news, is now an obligation for policymakers and all other stakeholders as the future developments of renewable energy formats are on stake!
Next week, in Madrid from 22 to 24 of April, all involved will be there and will speak: from government members from industry and science to Greenpeace, Proforest and Indonesian government, to speakers from Argentina and Brazil; from companies like Repsol and Unilever to those who might shine some resolute light on the subject through ideas on certification of Biofuels (THE WAY TO SET CONTROL MECHANISMS IN PLACE) Greenpalm, Intertek, Control Union, Biox Group (CO2 footprint in Biofuels), UTZ Certified, Ecofys and many other well introduced speakers and organisations who can help the policy makers as well as the industry and NGO’s to avoid throwing the baby away with the bath water, which seems at least premature as the impacts on global warming from today’s energy sources like coal, gas, oil and nuclear energy are quiet well defined and nothing flattering at all, or did we forgot all of a sudden?
So before this whole debate perverts any further and in order to get some real facts on the table: