biofuels
Written on 30-Apr-2009 by
panokroko Environmental Parliament Demonstration
World Bank working paper: Biofuels 75% to blame for grain inflation: here
ActionAid: Three nails in the coffin: the G8's contribution to the global food crisis: here
The attached charts show
(i) how poorly temperate agrofuels (liquid biofuels from crops or forestry, excluding algae) compare with wood used directly to replace coal as a land-use for mitigation. In simple terms the latter was found to be 5x-10x more effective. "WTW biomass options slide" taken from Concawe Well-to-Wheels study (2007)
(ii) how biomass (and some hydro dams) are a very poor land-use for energy compared with wind, solar or geothermal - orders of magnitude poorer. "Energy Footprints" taken from Pimentel et al. (2002)
(1) A UK Government/World Bank sponsored report, 4 Jun 07 noted that Indonesia is world's 3rd largest CO2 emitter owing mostly to land use emissions, with palm oil plantations one of the two biggest causes. Source Reuters,
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSJAK26206220070604
- (2) The Malaysian Star, 15 May 07 reports: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/5/15/lifefocus/17694218&sec=lifefocus
Between now and 8th March, European politicians will decide whether to introduce higher targets for biofuels without environmental safeguards, and whether rainforest destruction and peat drainage are a price we should pay for 'alternative transport fuels'.
Here is what European groups are doing to try and stop such a destructive policy:
Yesterday, an open letter 'We call on the EU to abandon biofuel targets' was sent to European politicians. 19 organistions signed initially, but this number is now up to over 50. You can find it here: http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/2007Jan31-openletterbiofuels.pdf .
Following the collapse of the latest WTO round, here's what the EU could now do to synthesise trade and environmental goals:
