Malaysia On Palmoil Charm Offensive In Europe

ENERGY TECH

Photo courtesy AFP.

by Staff Writers
Brussels (AFP) June 06, 2007
Malaysia, a leading palm oil producer, sought Wednesday to dispel concerns in Europe that palm oil plantations endanger tropical forests. Malaysia and Indonesia are leading a campaign to fight environmentalist claims that the plantations destroy vast swathes of tropical forest, pushing endangered animals like the orangutan towards extinction.

After describing such claims as "disinformation" last month, Malaysian Plantations Minister Peter Chin tried to strike a softer tone in Brussels, where he was leading a delegation that also included industry executives.

"The palm oil industry is facing issues raised by NGOs ranging from the destruction of the rainforest and loss of biodiversity to land clearance for agricultural purposes," he acknowledged.

"We have learned many lessons about maintaining biodiversity and the balance between the needs of man and the needs of the environment, but we recognise that there is still more we can do," Chin added.

Chin's delegation was to meet with EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel as well as other high level officials during its two-day visit to Brussels before heading to the Netherlands and Britain.

Ahead of the trip to Europe, Chin said the activists' claims were damaging demand for crude palm oil in Europe, which is looking to bio-fuels to help the environment.

Demand for such ecofriendly fuels are set to boom in Europe in the coming years after EU leaders agreed in March that bio-fuels, made from plants, should make up 10 percent of total vehicle fuel in the 27-nation bloc by 2020.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Email This Article

ENERGY TECH

Envirepel Energy Submits 240 MW Of Renewable Energy Projects To SDGE

Vista CA (SPX) Jun 07, 2007
As the deadline to submit offers to SDG and E closed on May 30, Envirepel Energy announced it had submitted for consideration, an additional 240 Mega Watts of renewable ultra low emissions biomass energy projects to the electric company.

ENERGY TECH Malaysia On Palmoil Charm Offensive In Europe Envirepel Energy Submits 240 MW Of Renewable Energy Projects To SDGE Entergy Carbon Credit Purchase Makes 270,000 Megawatt Hours Carbon Neutral Airline Sector Aims For Zero Emisssions By 2050	CIVIL NUCLEAR NGO Warns Of Explosion Risk At Russian Nuclear Storage US Sees Technical Delay In India Nuclear Pact US Positive On Clinching India Nuclear Accord Britain To Sell Part Of British Energy
BLUE SKY AIRS Global Map Of Carbon Dioxide From Space Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology Noxious Lightning	WOOD PILE Uganda Shelves Plan To Convert Rainforest Indonesia's Crackdown On Illegal Logging Under Fire Brazil Demonstrating That Reducing Tropical Deforestation Is Key WinWin Global Warming Solution Global Scientists Urge Canada To Save Boreal Forest
FARM NEWS Soils Offer New Hope As Carbon Sink GM Field Trials Uunderestimate Potential For Cross-Pollination Space-Inspired Garden Takes Top Prize At UK's Chelsea Garden Show Top Chef Warns Of Environmental Impact Of Fine Dining	CAR TECH Toyota Taken To Task In Britain For Prius Advert GM To Speed Up Development Of Electric Vehicles EU Institution Tests New Climate Friendly Cars Power Auto Group Debuts Fuel Efficient E-Vehicle Program
AEROSPACE Airlines Pledge Emissions Cuts But Warn EU Curbs Could Jeopardise Sector Sandia And Boeing Collaborate To Develop Aircraft Fuel Cell Applications Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement