Posted inBiofuel

biofuel policies in rich countries have forced 30 million people into poverty

Oxfam has released a new report which claims that biofuel policies in rich countries have forced 30 million people into poverty, based on evidence that indicates that biofuels have contributed up to 30% in the global rise in food prices. The report, “Another Inconvenient Truth”* says that “The biofuels being grown today are not an effective answer to climate change. Instead, biofuels are taking over agricultural land and forcing farming to expand into lands that are important carbon sinks, like forests and wetlands.”

And points out that, “If the fuel value for a crop is more than its food value, then it will be sold for fuel instead…this is exactly what’s happening … Rich countries’ biofuel policies [are] actually helping to accelerate climate change and deepen poverty and hunger. Rich countries demands for more biofuels in their transport fuels are causing spiraling food inflation.”

What report author Robert Bailey hits upon is a crucial but oft-neglected part of the alternative energy discussion: Demand reduction.

In addition to developing new renewable fuels we must look at ways at reducing demand for fuels in general: less energy-intense economies, higher efficiency transport systems, as well as lifestyle and design choices which enable this.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/policy/climate_change/downloads/bp114_inconvenient_truth.pdf
– from www.treehugger.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *