Serious questions are being raised about the environmental impacts of producing liquid biofuels for transport, the costs of policies to promote them and their possible unintended consequences.
Even though production of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel is growing rapidly, their contribution to total transport fuel consumption in the coming decades will remain limited. In contrast, the effects of increased biofuel production on global agricultural markets, the environment and on food security are already significant and are stirring controversy.
What could be the future role of biofuels for agriculture, food security and climate change?
Insights are provided by the GreenFacts summary of 2008-State of Food and Agriculture report of the FAO.
Read the GreenFacts summary on Liquid Biofuels for Transport – Prospects, risks and opportunities
Rising food prices have fuelled controversy about the production of liquid biofuels for transport. Currently, biofuels are produced from food crops, such as sugar cane or rape seed, and have been criticized for yielding low economic and environmental benefits compared to fossil fuels. If sustainably managed, large forested areas could serve as a source for a new generation of biofuels derived from wood that is better than current biofuels from food crops in terms of energy efficiency, environmental benefits and socio-economical impacts. This is one of the conclusions of a recent report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization that has been summarised by GreenFacts.
Read the GreenFacts summary on Forest and Energy
Demand for fish is still growing and exerting strong pressures on fish stocks, though growing aquaculture production is now meeting almost half of the demand of fish for food. GreenFacts faithfully summarised the “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture” released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
View the GreenFacts summary on Fisheries – latest data
GreenFacts publications are now available in eight different languages, including all six official languages of the United Nations.
New Digest on Drug-resistant Tuberculosis
Upcoming Digests on Energy Technology Scenarios and Forests and Energy
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The unequal distribution of food and conflict over control of the world’s dwindling natural resources present a major political and social challenge to governments and policy makers. The new report launched today by the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) – endorsed in Johannesburg by delegates from over 60 countries – draws global attention to the issue which is likely to reach crisis status as climate change advances and world population expands.
Water is essential for human survival and well-being and important to many sectors of the economy. However, resources are irregularly distributed in space and time, and they are under pressure due to human activity. How can water resources be managed sustainably while meeting an ever increasing demand? GreenFacts has faithfully summarised the state of the resource provided in the UNESCO World Water Development Report 2.
This week, the World Water Forum brings together thousands of people from around the world to discuss the future of water management. For this occasion, Facts on water resources are made availabe in seven languages.
View the GreenFacts summary on Water resources
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas that contributes to Earth’s global warming. Over the past two centuries, its concentration in the atmosphere has greatly increased, mainly because of human activities such as fossil fuel burning. One possible option for reducing CO2 emissions is to store it underground. This technique is called Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS). How does it work? Could it really help addressing climate change? GreenFacts has faithfully summarized the IPCC’s “Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage: Technical Summary (2004)”
Summary available in [en] [es] [fr] [nl]
Forests cover a third of our planet’s land. They provide raw materials, maintain biodiversity, protect land and water resources, and play a role in climate change mitigation. Forests are heavily exploited, but important efforts are being made to use and manage them more sustainably. What is the current state of the world’s forests? GreenFacts has faithfully summarised the FAO “Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, Progress towards sustainable forest management”.
Desertification is the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems. It threatens the livelihoods of some of the poorest and most vulnerable populations on the planet. Desertification is largely caused by unsustainable use of scarce resources. What options exist to avoid or reverse desertification and its negative impacts? GreenFacts has faithfully summarised the “Desertification Synthesis” by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in a language for the non-expert reader.
