Biofuels May Contribute To Climate Change

February 8, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

A new study says that the widespread use of ethanol could cause twice as many GHG emissions as gas because of land-use changes. According to Business Week, the researchers claim that no previous study on ethanol has included the factor of land use.

The study argues that farmers under economic pressure to produce biofuels will plow up more forests and grasslands, releasing stored carbon. For corn-based ethanol, the land use change would result in a 93 percent increase of GHG over 30 years as compared to gasoline. Biofuels from switchgrass would result in 50 percent more GHG emissions.

A WSJ article last fall said that ethanol would cause more problems than solve. Regarding this latest study, The Renewable Fuels Association said that the researchers’ view of land-use changes was “simplistic.”

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

The lesson is that not all biofuels are created equal. Sugar and switch grass, a U.S. prairie native, seem to be much better than our subsidized corn, which also would do better feeding people and animals. Organic waste, like animal manure, discarded restaurant grease and oil, wood chips that saw mills otherwise would discard, also seem to wear a greener, recycling hat.

Elizabeth V. Mooney | February 14th, 2008

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader