19 October 2009 | Luca Del Buono
Biofuel, Climate Change, Energy, Food and agriculture, Asia

 

The major argument the U.N. proposed on Friday was whether burning biofuels is the most effective and beneficial way toward climate friendly energy that best benefits the environment, as well as the economy and society.

Biofuels are produced by burning food products such as: wheat, maize, sugar cane and vegetable oils.

Many experts believe that the burning of biofuels however damages the ecosystem, only provides a limited energy supply, and diverts crops from a food chain that is already unable to meet the demands of the growing population.

"Therefore a more sophisticated debate is urgently needed," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner told reporters.

Some first generation biofuels such as ethanol, from sugar cane, could have positive impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNEP's report but ultimately the report stated it comes down to the way biofuels are produced, as to whether or not more rather then less emissions are produced.

The UNEP cited the use of biodiesel (as an example) from palm oil on deforested tropical peatlands, which is believed to lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions, up to 2,000 percent when compared with fossil fuels.

The UNEP currently believes that wastes and residues are the best option for the suitability of the environment.

Click here for Reuters article

 

Author: Caitlin Martinez

Photo:The Friendly Fiend/Flickr

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