A bid to cut carbon emissions in Europe by increasing the use of biofuels has caused increases in the cost of food prices and the destruction of the rainforest. If that wasn't bad enough, reports have shown some biofuels hardly even cut emissions.

Now the European Union (EU) is working to revamp their biofuels guidelines to ensure carbon emissions will actually be reduced without causing further harm to the environment. EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas emphasizes that protecting the environment takes priority over meeting the EU target of getting 10 per cent of Europe's road fuel from plants.

"We have seen that the environmental problems caused by biofuels and also the social problems are bigger than we thought they were. So we have to move very carefully," Mr Dimas told the BBC. "We have to have criteria for sustainability, including social and environmental issues, because there are some benefits from biofuels."

Doesn't it seem odd that the EU would have set these targets without outlining guidelines in the first place? It seems like there was some poor planning at the onset of the program. Obviously there's a fine line between initiating such plans within a timely manner, but still ensuring standards are in place so the intent of a program is effective and not completely counter-productive.

» BBC