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 adoption of the Paris Agreement on 12 December by 195 governments is a major turning point in the global fight against climate change. To date, 190 governments have committed to specific actions to reduce their national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, covering over 95% of total global emissions. While these …
The production of biofuels from synthesis gas that utilizes a wide variety of biomass is an emerging concept, particularly with the focus on biomass-based economy. Biomass is converted to synthesis gas via gasification, which involves partial oxidation of the biomass at high temperature. This route of ethanol or liquid biofuel …
Despite current weakness in global energy markets and the slowdown in China’s growth, demand for energy will continue to grow over the next 20 years and beyond as the world economy expands and more energy is required to power the higher level of activity. According to the 2016 edition of …
This study, commissioned by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), offers an assessment of the effect of bioenergy on greenhouse gas emissions. It combines estimates of supply-chain emissions from liquid and solid biofuels and direct and indirect land-use-change emissions with different bioenergy pathways: for transport fuel, electricity, and heat. The …
After over 20 years of international climate change negotiations, talks continue to move further away from identifying the root causes of the climate crisis. These short, sharp articles highlight years of struggle, passion and commitment towards environmental, social and climate justice. The writings found in this booklet are contributions from …
The Ending Rural Hunger project was created by the Global Economy and Development division of the Brookings Institution. The first report "Ending Rural Hunger: Mapping Needs and Actions for Food and Nutrition Security" argues that a new approach is needed to achieve Global Goal 2: Zero Hunger that is sustained, …
The transport sector now accounts for about 23% (7.3 Gt) of annual global energy-related CO2 emissions (32 Gt). This is a significant rise (about 120%) from 3.3 Gt/year during the 1970s, and to achieve a two-degree scenario (2DS), CO2 emissions from transport would need to decline to 5.7 Gt annually. …
More than 40 percent of US corn is now used to produce biofuels, which are used as substitutes for gasoline in transportation. Biofuels have been blamed universally for past increases in world food prices, and many studies have shown that energy mandates in the United States and European Union may …
For the first time in 1996, the IEA produced a compilation of its most used statistics in a booklet easily accessible to all – what is now the annual Key World Energy Statistics (KWES). Since then, the booklet has been hugely successful and has become a constant companion of energy …
Direct catalytic conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbon blend-stock can increase biofuels use in current vehicles beyond the ethanol blend-wall of 10–15%. Literature reports describe quantitative conversion of ethanol over zeolite catalysts but high C2 hydrocarbon formation renders this approach unsuitable for commercialization. Furthermore, the prior mechanistic studies suggested that ethanol …
This report examines energy sector vulnerabilities to climate change impacts at the regional level. It reviews the composition, operation, and management of regional energy systems including regional energy resources, private and public infrastructure, imports and exports, and energy consumption patterns. It also examines regional energy planning efforts, state and local …
The inclusion of indirect land use change (ILUC) emissions in the life-cycle assessment of biofuels in several biofuel policies has led to increased attention to the question of whether there are similar, behavior-induced emissions sources that could, or should, be added when assessing the life-cycle carbon intensity (CI) of oil …
The African continent could generate nearly a quarter of its energy needs through the use of indigenous, clean, renewable energy by 2030, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Africa 2030 – a comprehensive roadmap for Africa’s energy transition – finds that a combination of …
Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030 from Lloyd’s Register and University College London’s Energy Institute explores the drivers for the future energy mix in shipping in 2030. The report provides insight into future fuel demand for the containership, bulk carrier/general cargo and tanker sectors - representing approximately 70% of the global …
The Policy aims at mainstreaming of biofuels and, therefore, envisions a central role for it in the energy and transportation sectors of the country in coming decades. The Policy will bring about accelerated development and promotion of the cultivation, production and use of biofuels to increasingly substitute petrol and diesel …
Government is considering giving financial incentives of up to Rs 1.5 lakh on surrender of over-ten-year-old vehicles to check pollution and address road safety concerns, transport minister Nitin Gadkari today said. This comes at a time when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned plying of diesel vehicles which are …
Biofuels are acquiring importance due to their potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The two most important biofuels – viz., bioethanol and bio-diesel, are largely considered supplementary to the transport fuels. India has extensive programs and aims to blend 20 percent of transport fuels with biofuels by 2017. This paper …
Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals entails an immense demand for natural resources. This could threaten global ecological development, a new study warns. In 2005, the world-wide biomass harvest amounted to an estimated 13 billion tons, 82 per cent of which was used for food and feed, 11 per cent for …
The promise, prospects, and public policy trade-offs related to second-generation biofuels in road transport were addressed in an executive session convened at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 7 and 8, 2015. The workshop brought together twenty-eight of the world's leading experts from the fields of policy, …
The issue of energy access for the poor is gaining momentum globally. This collection of papers by early-career researchers draws on in-depth field research in Latin America, Asia and Africa to explore the challenges of delivering access to modern energy services. The chapters document the ongoing inequities of energy landscapes …
