VZCZCXRO8490
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHLI #2600 2661619
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221619Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7040
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS LISBON 002600
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG EAGR SENV ENRG TRGY EUN POL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON BIOFUELS SUSTAINABILITY
REF: SECSTATE 98110
1. (U) Portugal is actively engaged in EU efforts to reach
consensus on biofuels mandates and sustainability criteria by
the end of 2008, according to officials of the Ministries of
Environment and Economy. Fausto Brito e Abreu of the
Ministry of Environment highlighted to Pol/Econoff the Prime
Minister's 2007 commitment to achieve a level of ten percent
biofuels within the transportation fuels supply by 2010, a
figure higher than that now sought by the EU.
2. (U) Bento de Morais Sarmento of the Ministry of Economy
said Portugal supports the developing two-step approach for
implementing minimum greenhouse gas emissions savings
standards from the use of biofuels. Most EU delegations will
support an initial requirement of least thirty-five percent
reduction in greenhouse emissions from the use of biofuels,
but there are differing views about mandating at least fifty
percent reduction from their use as of 1 January 2015.
Sarmento said Portugal prefers the increased future target be
left to a subsequent review.
3. (U) The Ministry of Economy has the lead for biofuels and
other renewables issues, and Sarmento and Brito e Abreu
reported no differences in their respective ministries'
positions, while Antonio Cerca Miguel of the Ministry of
Agriculture said Agriculture currently only monitors biofuels
developments.
STEPHENSON