Directive 2009/30/EC amending Directive 98/70/EC on the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce Greenhouse gas emissions

The directive 2009/30/EC provides the legislative basis for reducing the GHG intensity of fuels used in vehicles for transport by 10% by 2020. They apply to all fuels used in road transport, including petrol, diesel and biofuels, and to gasoil that is used in non-road mobile machinery.The 10% target comprises 6% reduction of GHG intensity of fuels by 2020, 2% reduction of GHG intensity depending on the development of new technologies and 2% reduction from purchasing Clean Development Mechanism credits. The Directive requires calculation of fuel GHG intensity on a life-cycle basis, calculated from a 2010 baseline.To limit the undesired impacts of biofuel production, it establishes criteria to enable biofuels to be counted towards GHG emission reduction targets. Biofuel GHG emissions must be 35% lower than the fossil fuel they are replacing, increasing to 50% by 2017 and 60% from 2018. Raw materials for biofuels may not be taken from land with high carbon stocks (e.g. peat lands) or high biodiversity.