Biofuels - "expensive and ineffective way to cut emissions"

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"Biofuels - generally an expensive and ineffective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions"
- UK Parliament report
"Biofuels are unlikely to improve fuel security as they largely rely on fossil fuels for their production"

UK Committee calls for moratorium on biofuels

(Note - Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from organic matter rather than from fossil fuels which are a finite and non-renewable resource. Most biofuels, known as first generation biofuels, are currently produced from conventional food and fodder crops.)

Key points:

Some biofuels are sustainable but the UK Parliament committee concluded on 01/21/2008 that the UK and Europe should not have pursued targets to increase the use of biofuels
In its report, Are biofuels sustainable?, the Committee says that without these measures some biofuels could lead to environmental damage and the destruction of environmentally crucial rainforests
The report also concludes that biofuels are generally an expensive and ineffective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions when compared to other policies. Emissions from road transport can be cut cost-effectively, and with lower environmental risk, by implementing a range of other policies

The report calls for a moratorium on biofuel targets. It argues that instead the Government should concentrate on the use of sustainable biofuels such as waste vegetable oil and the development of more efficient biofuel technologies that could have a role to play in the future once they have been shown to be sustainable.

The Committee also concluded that

biofuels are unlikely to improve fuel security as they largely rely on fossil fuels for their production
current agricultural support for biofuels is largely unsustainable
there could be significant opportunities for cost-effectively cutting greenhouse gas emissions by planting forests and restoring habitats
a large biofuel industry based on current technology is likely to increase food prices and could damage food security in developing countries
On the basis of current biofuel technology, more greenhouse gas cuts could be achieved at lower cost and risk by implementing a range of other policies

Read the full press release here

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Biofuels - "expensive and ineffective way to cut emissions"
What do you think? ...

Readers' comments:
(Latest first)

Greg : Bio Fuels are another bad idea. They are nothing but a tool for the politicans and enviornmentalists. In addition they're enviornmentally unfriendly. The net benefit after planting, harvesting, and converting to usable fuel is ridiculous. Nuclear, solar, wind and hydroelectric are realistic alternatives.

Max : Sounds like a repeat of who killed the "electric car". I'm sure the fox (Oil) is in the hen house in England.

Denny : I use bio diesel and have good luck. The farmers can grow plenty of grain to make it but the oil companies have everyone snowed. My trucks get more power using bio diesel. I'm sure Bush and his oil buddies don't like it one bit. Tell Europe to continue taking it from the oil companies. They're the suckers.

Homer : Surely we are rapidly finding out that Ethanol is not going to be the answer. We just started to really get into making it and the price of food rose dramatically. The cost of animal feed, loss of forest, decreased gas mileage. The price has not decreased at all for the consumer, in fact it went up many times over. We simply will have to find a more sensible approach to bio-fuels.

JJ : All governments must force the auto industry (cars, trucks, RVs) to use technology to increase miles per gallon, less harmful emissions, and than force the Fuel companies to rein in their profits. If we develop better autos they can't increase price of fuel.

Leah : Take conservation more seriously by: Improving engines that will increase gas mileage for our cars and motorhomes. Buy smaller vehicles. Car pool. Get used to riding bicycles with a shopping basket for short trips to the food shop.

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