Death of the biofuel dream?

Delegates working on a climate agreement to succeed the Kytoto protocol have misgivings about biofuels being able to help save the planet from climate catastrophe. One per cent of the world's fields are currently devoted to growing biofuels. This figure is predicted to increase because of the cost of oil and the belief that biofuels emit fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. However several studies are questioning this premise because of possible lack of land or water and because any cuts in CO2 emissions gained by burning fewer fossil fuels may be wiped out by increased emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide from the fertilisers used on biofuel crops. The authors highlight geographical areas affected by lack of land or water and look at the impracticality of attempting to grow biofuel plants in those areas. These studies predict possible effects on the world land mass by changing the use of land and by the use of water from additional sources such as underground extractions. Three diagrams illustrate where biofuel crops could grow worldwide. The authors feel government and businesses currently backing biofuels need to be more aware of this side of the research.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02624079
• Authors:
  • PEARCE, F
  • ALDHOUS, P
• Publication Date: 2007-12-15

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 6-7
• Serial:
  • NEW SCIENTIST
  • Volume: 196
  • Issue Number: 2634
  • Publisher: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION LTD
  • ISSN: 0262-4079

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agriculture; Alternate fuels; Economics; Geology; Land use; Nitrogen oxides; Policy; Pollutants; Pollution; Sustainable development
• ITRD Terms: 347: Agriculture; 255: Economics; 2442: Emission; 4053: Geology; 356: Land use; 7380: Nitrogen oxide; 173: Policy; 2453: Pollution; 2417: Renewable energy; 2427: Sustainability
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Geotechnology; Policy; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01102729
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 16 2008 8:25AM