Bio fuels – good or bad?
The argument over bio fuels is raging. It centres on two key points: on the one hand bio fuels are said to be good for the environment because they produce fewer emissions than fossil fuels and so can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are said to be driving climate change. On the other hand, some organisations believe that bio fuels will do more harm to the environment in the way they are produced unless strict controls are imposed.
The Royal Society issued a report this week, which followed a 14 month enquiry at the same time as the European Union announced re-examination of its targets for bio fuels because of fears of their impact on the environment. The fear is that forests will be decimated to make way for land on which to grow bio fuel crops.
It stands to reason that in poor communities where environmental concerns are much less of a priority than putting food on the table, the urge to clear forest to make way for valuable crops would make sense. But it is often not these communities who live on the land who make the decision; it is the Governments and big businesses around the world who will initiate the competition for agricultural land between bio fuels and the crops needed to feed the expanding world population. However you look at it, it would seem trees are doomed and that’s bad news for everyone. It is a well-known fact that curbing carbon dioxide emissions is far easier by restoring and protecting forests.
