When I attended the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference back in March, I found myself perturbed by the schedule of events for the high-level "Ministerial" conference attendees. They had the option at any time to attend either a biofuel-related panel, a wind/solar/geothermal panel, or... Another biofuel panel. Having already learned about the high costs of creating biofuel, I found it puzzling that leaders from around the world were obviously being encouraged to embrace biofuels.
The Guardian just released a report that should convince even the most diehard biofuel fans that their devotion is misled:
Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian.
The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body.
The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises.
(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Darwin Bell, shared under a Creative Commons license.)
That's disturbing that the biofuel panel was always an option... huh.
Posted by: Becca | July 18, 2008 at 12:53 PM
That's disturbing that the biofuel panel was always an option.
Posted by: araba kiralama şişli | October 23, 2010 at 11:12 AM
I don't agree with your analysis. I have heard conflicting information on biofuels. There is an incredible amount of spin on this subject now. Biofuel certainly should not take over the world's production of fuel. It should be regulated as a commodity as to prevent it from being speculated on as a food crop. But there is no reason why it can't be part of a renewable energy policy. I said part, not all.
Posted by: marti | October 15, 2011 at 05:44 PM