Biofuels

FIELD has met with representatives from the European Commission's development directorate and partners in the Renewable Energy and International Law Project to discuss the Commission's work on biofuels. The Commission has produced a Biofuels Action Plan (December 2005) and is developing a Biofuels Strategy paper (February 2006). FIELD highlighted the need for the Commission to consider the European Community's obligations under international environmental agreements such as the Biodiversity Convention and the climate change treaties in fashioning its Action Plan and Strategy. In April 2006, FIELD will contribute research and analysis on the barriers and opportunities to the development of renewable energy present in international agricultural law, as part of a broader study on renewable energy and international law. FIELD is also looking at environmental certification schemes in connection with biofuels.