UK opposes EU green aviation plan
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The UK government is lobbying for aviation to be excluded from an EU target to increase renewable energy, the BBC has reported.
The BBC cites government documents it has received that request the industry be exempt from a target of 20% renewable energy by 2020. It also wants interim targets leading up to 2020, and targets on clean energy to be optional.
The reasoning behind the UK government’s stance is said to be due to uncertainly over the use of biofuels.
Environmental groups however, are reported to be furious at what they believe is part of a campaign to water down renewable energy legislation.
The UK’s Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) says it is “pointless” holding aviation to a legally binding target if there is so much uncertainty over biofuels for planes.
The EU is also said to be angry about the UK’s stance, with Claude Turmes, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) saying the position is “outrageous”.
“Prime Minister Brown came here (to Brussels) and said he would stick to the 20%,” Turmes told the BBC. “Now his civil servants in Brussels are not following that. They are trying to dilute the target in the directive – they are attacking it.”
He added that he believed British government policy was heavily influenced by big business.
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