Sunday, February 10, 2008

In Case You Missed It: Ethanol and Other Current Biofuels Aid Global Warming

From Friday's New York Times:

Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fuels are taken into account, two studies being published Thursday have concluded.

The benefits of biofuels have come under increasing attack in recent months, as scientists took a closer look at the global environmental cost of their production. These latest studies, published in the prestigious journal Science, are likely to add to the controversy.

These studies for the first time take a detailed, comprehensive look at the emissions effects of the huge amount of natural land that is being converted to cropland globally to support biofuels development.

More here.

So, to sum up what we're learning about ethanol mandates, they trigger higher food prices, higher energy costs, and greater accumulation of greenhouse gases.

No comments: