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 …
The final agreement on the EU climate package retains the goal to reduce emissions by 20 per cent. Together with a 20-per-cent share of renewables and 20-per-cent energy savings, this creates the triple goal of 20-20-20 by 2020.
This briefing paper synthesises recent debates, focusing on socio-economic factors. To what extent were biofuels to blame for the food price spike? What opportunities do biofuels offer for the poorest farmers in the developing world? What are their socio-environmental risks? The paper concludes with policy recommendations to reduce the risk …
In 2008, three global crises converged to threaten development in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing to the fore particularly testing challenges for policymakers
Can pastoral communities benefit from the cultivation of biofuel crops? Work carried out by SOS Sahel International U K to facilitate debate and understanding on the current biofuel boom in dryland Africa points to some interesting possibilities. At the same time many questions need to be answered before pastoralists can …
This study reviews regulatory instruments designed to reduce environmental externalities from the transport sector. The study finds that the main regulatory instruments used in practice are fuel economy standards, vehicle emission standards, and fuel quality standards. Although industrialized countries have introduced all three standards with strong enforcement mechanisms, most developing …
Clean Edge, which has been tracking the growth of clean-tech markets for nearly a decade, reports that global revenues for solar photovoltaics, wind power, and biofuels expanded from $75.8 billion in 2007 to $115.9 billion in 2008. For the first time, one sector alone, wind, had revenues exceeding $50 billion. …
India has many years of experience using renewable energy sources to fulfill the energy needs of its population. This includes exploitation of both traditional sources (such as biomass) and nontraditional sources (such as wind power). India has been the region
A recent editorial in Science issued a call for a mission-oriented project, similar to the Manhattan project, for processing lignocellulose (plant biomass)
The State government will constitute a bio-fuel board headed by the Chief Minister to monitor production and utilisation of bio-fuel. Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Development Commissioner Dr L Shanthakumari Sundar said that it has been planned to meet 5 pc of the total fuel demand of the state …
Chicago: The use of crop-based biofuels could speed up rather than slow down global warming by fueling the destruction of rainforests, scientists warned. Once heralded as the answer to oil, biofuels have become increasingly controversial because of their impact on food prices and the amount of energy it takes to …
USE of renewable energy sources is supposed to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels. But this is not often true, points out the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The Indonesian bio-fuel project, for instance, has already put 6 million hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, and is …
The State Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod for the State Biofuel policy which aims at 10 per cent biofuel blended petrol and diesel by 2017. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje said bio-diesel production will be taken up from non-edible oil …
NEW YORK: Barely a year after the U.S. Congress enacted an energy law to foster a huge national enterprise capable of converting plants and agricultural wastes into automotive fuel, the goals lawmakers set for the ethanol industry are in serious jeopardy. As recently as last summer, plants that make ethanol …
This report is primarily addressed at policymakers and others concerned about gender and energy issues in India. The ministerial structure as it relates to energy in India is given as an appendix for the benefit of readers both within and outside India. Typically, a gender audit exercise is carried out …
US ethanol producers have had no joy from the stock market. The financial figures of many are awful. Venture capitalists are holding back investment - preferring new fuel sources.
This paper considers the complementary aims of meeting the increasing demand for food and other agricultural products and of maintaining the natural resource base for future generations. Within the context of FAO
With the prospects of higher energy requirements in the longer term and the need for reducing GHG emission, biofuel production could be an important source of sustainable energy supply although it will only represent a small proportion of total energy consumption. Driven by national objectives for greater energy security, the …
