This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
Development experts agree that ensuring access to sustainable modern energy services is critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Some 2.4 billion people still use traditional biomass fuels for cooking, often facing the risk of indoor air pollution, while about 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity. This report …
This publication reviews changes in global forest cover and root causes of forest loss, including weak forest governance particularly in public-owned forests. It also highlights innovative practices in conserving forests and securing livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
This latest report examines the current state of knowledge and research needs with respect to global trends in oil palm production and their impact on the environment and livelihoods, including impacts on deforestation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Also focuses on the impacts of increased cultivation for biofuel production. This …
As biofuel production ramps up, WRI economist Liz Marshall explains in this factsheet, why counting all the greenhouse gas impacts associated with producing these new fuels is critical to good energy and climate policy.
Biofuels are a promising source of energy with major implications for global competitiveness, energy security and uncertain social and environmental impacts. Therefore, crafting policy and regulatory frameworks for biofuels nationally and internationally is likely to require intense debate, negotiations and compromise. Building on the current momentum that exists in almost …
Transport sector is an essential driver of economic development and growth, and at the same time, one of the biggest contributors to climate change, responsible for almost a quarter of the global carbon dioxide emissions. The sector is 95 percent dependent on fossil fuels. International Energy Agency (IEA) scenarios present …
The US Environmental Protection Agency released its expected Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) detailing the implementation of changes to the existing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS1) as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The proposed rulemaking for RFS2 establishes new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, …
This paper provides an overview of the main risks and opportunities that may arise from liquid biofuel production and use in developing countries. Both the potential environmental impacts and the socio-economic effects of liquid biofuel production and use are discussed, focusing, in particular, on the household-level implications. A few country-levels …
With an integrated bio-refinery business model, Nandan Biomatrix aims to be the largest biodiesel producer in the country The 51-year-old Bhupendra (Bholu) Kansagra is a frequent flier to India, exploring opportunities to expand his geographical investment spread beyond the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Sudan. "Although my first investment in …
Counting the climate-warming carbon dioxide locked up in forests could offer a cheaper way to curb the greenhouse gas than by considering only emissions from industry and fossil fuels, according to a new study. Factories, power plants and petroleum-powered vehicles are likely to emit some 500 billion tons of carbon …
Planting delays in key areas of the U.S. Corn Belt this spring could lead to tight supplies of corn during the next year, forcing prices higher and further threatening profit margins at ethanol plants and livestock companies. The slow pace of corn planting east of the Mississippi River, including major …
Global energy demand is expected to soar 44 percent over the next two decades with most of the demand coming from developing countries such as China and Russia, the U.S. government's top energy forecasting agency said on Wednesday. The worldwide economic downturn has hit energy consumption, but an expected recovery …
Ajay Modi / New Delhi May 24, 2009, 0:22 IST The petroleum ministry has proposed a reduction in the Customs duty on denatured alcohol and molasses to stabilise the 5 per cent ethanol-blending programme in petrol. The programme has been hit due to a dip in the sugarcane output in …
You can't grow biofuel without cutting down trees, right? Not so, says Marcos Buckeridge, who tells Jan Rocha how Brazil can supply the world with green ethanol.
The U.S. biofuels industry would be hamstrung if government regulators choose to use unfair and untested formulas that hold it responsible for greenhouse gases from crops overseas, ethanol groups said on Thursday. U.S. and California environmental regulators included indirect land use change overseas in formulas that measure greenhouse gases from …
Nearly a third of the world's cement industry has united on a strategy to cut global warming gases in a way that will not slow a construction boom in poor countries, backers of the initiative said on Wednesday. The cement sector contributes about 5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions …
President Barack Obama's tough fuel economy program for vehicles could put another damper on the struggling ethanol business, because the alternative fuel packs a lower energy content than gasoline. Obama on Tuesday introduced the most aggressive proposal yet to boost U.S. auto fuel economy standards -- a bid to reduce …
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will focus on renewable fuels during his visit to Beijing this week, hoping to team up with China to develop bio-fuels, the Caijing Magazine has reported. Lula arrived in Beijing on Monday and will pay a state visit for three days. "We will …
The objectives of this study are : to present a comprehensive review of the status of biofuels developments around the world and the policy regimes and support measures driving this evolution; to assess the agro-ecological potential of all major biofuels crops
Ottawa will help Canadian pulp producers struggling with a U.S. tax windfall awarded their American rivals, but has not decided yet what form the aid will take, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt said on Thursday. Canada also expects the White House will try to end the "black liquor" tax credit …
