by Géraldine Kutas | Nov 29, 2013 | Sem categoria
A couple of new reports released this month in Brussels carry a similar message: Sustainable biofuels, like sugarcane-based ethanol from Brazil, will need to play a significant role if the decarbonization of European transport is going to happen longer term. There’s...
by Géraldine Kutas | Nov 8, 2013 | Sem categoria
As an indication of how the European Union biofuels dossier remains stuck in a holding pattern, the European Parliament’s Energy Committee has canceled a planned vote on whether to give the EU’s Parliament Rapporteur a mandate to hold negotiations (so-called...
by Géraldine Kutas | Oct 17, 2013 | Sem categoria
The United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security (CFS) met last week in Rome and, not surprisingly, biofuels were again at the centre of a hot debate. Governments, industry, civil society and academics all represented at the meeting could agree on an overall mild...
by Géraldine Kutas | Oct 3, 2013 | Sem categoria
Ecofys, a well-respected Dutch consultancy, is out with a new study that effectively eviscerates the association of biofuels with “land grabbing,” that favorite charged-phrase NGOs pedal that industry is in the business of pushing locals off their land. The meaty...
by Géraldine Kutas | Sep 12, 2013 | Sem categoria
A mixed bag from Wednesday’s full European Parliament vote on biofuels and that issue of indirect land use change, ILUC, after months of debate in the parliament. The bad news is that the EP, as expected, voted to approve a cap on first generation biofuels, although...
by Géraldine Kutas | Sep 9, 2013 | Sem categoria
Another interesting report out last week on biofuels. This one is entitled, “Biofuels play minor role in local food prices,” and was produced by Ecofys, a Dutch consulting firm that does work regularly for the European Commission and sometimes for NGOs and the...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 19, 2012 | Sem categoria
The day we have all been waiting for has come. Over the last few months, governments have been working on a document that needs signatures of more than 130 international leaders coming to Rio from all over the world. Keeping in line with the level of ambition...
by Géraldine Kutas | Apr 22, 2012 | Sem categoria
Today is Earth Day. And this year we have a number of reasons to celebrate it. Perhaps the most significant one is the chance to build the future we want. In June, the world will see Brazil hosting the largest forum ever in the history of the United Nations: Rio+20....
by Géraldine Kutas | Jan 26, 2012 | Sem categoria
A lot. And the Americans will be the first to tell us. After more than three decades, the U.S. government lifted its tariff on ethanol giving the American public greater access to and an increase in environmental benefits starting in 2012. This is clearly a...
by Géraldine Kutas | Dec 12, 2011 | Sem categoria
That’s the question many of us are grappling with today. With the aim of meeting environmental goals, the European Commission is now due to finalize the very last provisions of the sustainability criteria it established two years ago in both the Renewable Energy...
by Géraldine Kutas | Oct 10, 2011 | Sem categoria
Last week, at the annual EU-Brazil Summit, the EU and Brazil have been discussing how to jointly tackle our global challenges – chief among them trade, climate change and economic growth. For the last four summits, leaders have pledged their unwavering commitment to...
by Géraldine Kutas | Oct 2, 2011 | Sem categoria
For five years now, European and Brazilian policymakers and officials convene to exchange views on big ticket issues for Brazil and the EU. This week they will meet in Brussels – what better place if you want to advance some critical issues between major trading...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 6, 2011 | Sem categoria
Welcome to our first blogpost directly from the 2011 edition of the Ethanol Summit, one of the world’s top events focused on renewable energies, which takes place in São Paulo, Brazil today and tomorrow. Today was an exciting and enriching debate surrounding solutions...
