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Climate Change & Energy: Biofuels

Opinions

Here is a list of the latest articles

Investigación en biocombustibles

Bioeconomy’s role in the developing world is at a crossroads

Bioeconomy opens up development opportunities for Latin America, but it also involves several risks, says Federico Vasen.

7 May 2013 | ES

Girls reading with solar lights

Climate change policy should pass a 'human rights test'

Using the human rights framework to tackle challenging ethical questions can guide climate policy, argues political philosopher Simon Caney.

26 September 2012 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

'Algal biofuels are no energy panacea'

Algal biofuels, like crops, demand land, water, fertilisers, pesticides and inputs that are costly for India, says Hoysall Chanakya.

11 June 2012 | EN

Wood stove

Invest in 'green' biomass fuels

Biomass fuels are often branded dirty but can be harnessed in 'greener' ways through new technologies, says Duncan Macqueen.

Source: IIED

15 March 2011 | EN

Solar panel in Lukla, Nepal

Tailor renewable energies to local culture

To make an impact, small-scale renewable energy systems must fit social expectations and cultural norms, argues Benjamin K. Sovacool.

23 February 2011 | EN

Reality check for 'miracle' biofuel crop

The hardy jatropha tree as a biofuel source may not be the panacea for smallholders that some have claimed, say Miyuki Iiyama and James Onchieku.

27 October 2010 | EN

China's coasts offer more than land reclamation

China must protect its coasts to replenish biodiversity and increase CO2 absorption, say Jiang Gaoming, Dou Guanyi and Chen Bosen.

Source: China Dialogue

15 October 2010 | EN | 中文

Jatropha nursery in Senegal

Maximising Africa's bioenergy potential

African bioenergy projects must focus on new technologies and receive stronger political support, says biofuel expert Emile van Zyl.

1 September 2010 | EN | FR

Poplars

Are new biofuels the ethical answer?

New biofuels offer a sustainable source of energy but we must consider the ethical and social implications, say Joyce Tait and Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka.

10 March 2010 | EN | 中文

Renewables the way forward for India

Renewables like solar, wind and biomass could help India meet its growing energy needs and create millions of jobs, says Anil K. Rajvanshi.

Source: Nariphaltan

1 April 2009 | EN

Biotechnology is not the only solution

Biotechnology is only one of a set of approaches needed to solve the world's problems, says an editorial in Nature Biotechnology.

Source: Nature Biotechnology

19 August 2008 | EN | 中文

Seaweed farmer

Take biofuel crops off the land and grow them at sea

The environmental and social costs of producing biofuels on land can be avoided by farming seaweed, says Ricardo Radulovich.

Source: 科学与发展网络(SciDev.Net)

6 June 2008 | EN | 中文

Sweet sorghum, a crop that can be used to produce bioethanol

Research needed to cut risks to biofuel farmers

Dryland farmers are growing novel crops for biofuel, but domestication and research into yields and pests is still needed, says William Dar.

6 December 2007 | EN | ES | FR

Sugarcane is used to produce ethanol. Increased biofuel production might pose new food security risks.

Biofuel revolution threatens food security for the poor

Strong international policies are needed to stop the biofuel revolution threatening food security for the poor, says Siwa Msangi.

6 December 2007 | EN | ES

The challenge for ACP countries is to find resources for large-scale biofuel production

Building on biofuel production opportunities

Biofuel production offers a lifeline to sugar-producing countries hit by the European Union's 2006 sugar reforms, argues Maureen Wilson.

6 December 2007 | EN | ES

Sorghum, a source of bioethanol

Biofuels: benefits and risks for developing countries

Biofuels offer huge potential, but pose challenges best countered with strong and coherent development policies, says S. Arungu-Olende.

5 December 2007 | EN | ES | 中文

Sugarcane is used to produce ethanol. Increased biofuel production might pose new food security risks.

Freer markets needed for biofuels

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, stands up for biofuels' role in sustainable development.

Source: Guardian Unlimited

7 June 2007 | EN

Modern biomass stoves could benefit people in rural China

China bioenergy strategy ignoring the poor?

China is increasing its use of bioenergy. But the government is overlooking smaller projects that could benefit poor rural communities, says Lin Gan.

Source: China Dialogue

25 May 2007 | EN | 中文

Biofuel production will increase demand for irrigation water

Biofuel crops could drain developing world dry

Growing biofuels could put pressure on scarce water supplies in poorer countries, argues Charlotte de Fraiture.

10 May 2007 | EN

Biofuels should be part of climate change mitigation, say the authors

World must act now on climate change

The world must take measures to combat climate change now if it is to achieve global sustainability, say Rosina M. Bierbaum and Peter H. Raven.

Source: Science

11 April 2007 | EN | 中文