BIOFUELS NEED CLOSER LOOK

UN Study Calls for More Debate on Biofuels
Alisha Ryu, 16 October 2009 (Voice Of America)

"A new report by the United Nations Environment Program says developing biofuels as a green energy option is beneficial only when countries adopt a sophisticated approach.

["...Assessing Biofuels] has warnings for African countries, which are already struggling to cope with the loss of productive farmlands through drought and land degradation…[C]onducted by UNEP's International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, [the study] concludes that while biofuel production and use may appear to be a solution for cutting greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning of fossil fuels, some biofuels are much more climate-friendly than others."

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"The report says biofuels can lead to reduced emissions or worsen the problem…[U]sing ethanol fuel made from sugar cane, as practiced in some countries like Brazil, can lead to emissions reductions of up to 100 percent when substituted for fossil fuel. But making and using bio-diesel from palm oil on deforested land can lead to a significant increase in emissions when compared to using gasoline…Given that most biofuels today are made from food crops such as maize, wheat, sugar cane, vegetable and palm oils…it is also important that the growth of the biofuel industry does not encourage unsustainable habits, such as using productive farmlands to grow energy crops."

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"UNEP's spokesman Nick Nuttall says far more research and debate is needed to determine which energy crops can grow where and how best to use limited land resources to combat climate change…[O]ther considerations include the impact of energy crops on such things as local water quality, quantity and biodiversity…David Newman, who runs the Nairobi-based biofuels consultancy Endelevu Energy, [says] research and debate are especially critical for Africa, where sustainable land management and agricultural production efforts are often at odds with the need for development.

"One of the most controversial local issues is the production of bio-diesel, which Newman says could be a disaster for some African countries trying to enter the market…Tanzania [just] announced that it was halting further land allocations for biofuel development until a framework to regulate the industry is in place…[following] reports that arable land that could be used to grow food is being increasingly used for biofuel production."