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European Parliament backs switch in biofuels

The European Parliament on Wednesday backed plans to cap the use of traditional biofuels to address concern over greenhouse gas emissions.

Parliament voted in favour of a text to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the increasing use of agricultural land for biofuel production.

MEPs said first-generation biofuels—or from traditional sources—should not exceed six percent of final energy consumption in transport by 2020, as opposed to the current 10 percent target.

This will mean a boost for advanced biofuels, sourced from seaweed or certain types of waste, which must represent at least 2.5 percent of energy consumption in transport by 2020, MEPs said.