Biofuels are Bad
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:
Biofuelshave forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previouslyestimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained bythe Guardian.
The damning unpublished assessment is based onthe most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by aninternationally-respected economist at global financial body.
Thefigure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims thatplant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises.
(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Darwin Bell, shared under a Creative Commons license.)