PARIS, Apr 19 (IPS) – Earlier in the decade, biofuels were hailed as the energy panacea, the silver bullet to solve oil shortages and abide by environmental concerns. The European Union recently took the lead in imposing the use of these liquid or gaseous fuels made from plants.
But the green credentials of biofuels have since been disputed. The total amount of energy needed to transform biomass into ‘‘green’’ fuels offsets most of the energy biofuels save when the entire process or life-cycle is considered.
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The French chapters of Friends of the Earth, Oxfam, Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development (CCFD) and others have joined forces under a single watchword: ‘‘Biofuels won’t feed the planet.’’
Friends of the Earth is an international network of non-profit organisations campaigning for sustainable societies and Oxfam France is engaged in a global non-governmental movement working for a just world.
According to the coalition, the figures speak for themselves: 232 kilos of maize are needed to produce 50 litres of ethanol – roughly enough to fill an average car tank, or enough to provide the amount of calories a child needs in a year.
But last December, the 27 EU countries agreed on Brussels’ ‘‘Biofuels Directive’’ and made filling car tanks with biofuels much more profitable than feeding the hungry. (more…)
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The bigger issue I see here is the subsidies and tariff protection of EU and US farmers. Sugar cane is much more efficient at producing biofuels than maize, but they’re not talking about it. Why not? Because it grows in hot countries (most of which are poorer) would push up damand for those product, which are a luxury and consumed in rich countries. One of the reasons why there is a food shortage is because much of the previous so-called “aid” given was subsidised production in rich countries, shipped off to the poorer countries, with the efffect of depressing prices, lowering demand for local product alternatives and putting local farmers (some of the poorest people on the planet) out of business. At the same time products from these countries have traditionally been kept out by tariff barriers. To give some credit where it is due, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act addresses this in some way, but how much of an effect it has I haven’t researched thoroughly enough.From what I’ve read, yes biofuels are not the complete answer. BUT by scientific accounts climate change (warming) and “food-insecurity/scarcity” are linked in many (hot) parts of the world and Africa in particular, so warming makes many food productive areas unproductive (to put a complex argument simply). Looking at the details of the production processes (of biofuels)is necessary, but the idea that it is worry about “climate change” or “starvation” is a misleading one, from what I understand. They are linked and other issues can have as big or a bigger impact on the outcome.
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But don’t just take my word for it- Look up some more and tell me what you find.
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Thanks and stay blessed.