Friends of the Earth, Ecologistas en Acción, Greenpeace, Jóvenes Verdes and WWF/Adena have launched an online campaign demanding a drastic reduction of CO₂ emission limits in Europe. The EU is set to establish limits next fall and these associations are lobbying in for stricter ones. According to figures managed by these organizations, 70 percent of all oil used in Europe is used for transport and, among this, 50 percent is used for cars and light freight transport. The statement by these organizations also says that the moment is now, because of high oil prices and because transport is offsetting progress made by other sectors to curb global emissions.

The proposal includes average car emissions for 2012 in the 120 g/km of CO₂ limit, but 80 g/km by 2020 and 60 g/km by 2025. These levels should not take in consideration the car's weight and should be achieved by additional and not substitute innovations (like adding plug-in capabilities to all hybrids).

[Source: Ecologistas en Acción]

If you check any European car ad, you will see in tiny letters at the bottom the car's consumption and CO₂ production figures. This information is a mandatory requirement in Spain. But, according to Ecologistas en Acción and the Unión de Consumidores de España (UCE), an environmental organization and a consumer union from Spain respectively, these figures are not accurate and could be misleading.

Spain taxes the purchase of cars depending on CO₂ production figures, therefore it's a consumer's right to know previously what these figures are. UCE found out that 11 automakers didn't have accurate information or their ads were plainly misleading, like saying a car is under 119 g/km when it's just one model and the ad focus on the sport version that produces more than 200 g/km. Also, these figures tend to be hidden with small print. They also accuse automakers of trivializing these figures because all cars pollute even when polluting less.

Don't think it's just one automaker: Hyundai, Nissan, Seat, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Honda, Citroën, Opel, Dacia and Mercedes-Benz were accused of these practices.

[Source: Ecologistas en Acción via Econoticias]

Ecologistas en Acción (EeA), one of Spain's largest environmental groups, has started a campaign against the installation of three biodiesel manufacturing plants in the Port of Seville in Spain. EeA is asking the administration to assess the origin of raw materials used in biofuel manufacturing, using the Indonesian palm oil case and Brazil and Argentina's mono-crops of soy as bad examples.

EeA claims that this kind of agriculture is making some territories even poorer because they use too many water resources and fertilizers which eventually lead to desertification. What's even more, they pose the question on how much fuel is used to transport those fuels.

According to this group, only recycled oils or those that are produced locally under stricter conditions should be used for biodiesel. The three plants are being built thanks to subsidies made by the regional government.

Related:

• CSIRO: Yes to biofuels, no to palm oil biodiesel
• Five-year moratorium on food feedstock biofuel plants suggested at the UN
• Biofuels adding to destruction of Brazilian cerrado

Source: Ecologistas en Acción via Agroinformación]