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Biofuels. Good or Bad for sustainable development?. All biomass can be used for energy 1 st generation Ethanol (fermentation) Diesel (vegetable oil) 2 nd generation - Plants, trees, straw 3 rd generation - Algae (technology needs to be developed). Benefits - reducing CO2
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Biofuels Good or Bad for sustainable development?
All biomass can be used for energy • 1st generation • Ethanol (fermentation) • Diesel (vegetable oil) 2nd generation - Plants, trees, straw 3rd generation - Algae (technology needs to be developed)
Benefits - reducing CO2 - No longer dependent on fossil fuels - Solution for EU farmers - development opportunities for tropical countries, countries with abundance of land
Downside • CO2 effects over the whole cycle can be negative • Competition with food (scientific reports say that approx. 30% of the rise in food prices can be attributed to biofuels) • Violation of land rights (enforcement) • takes the pressure of energy saving policies • deforestation (palm oil and soy) • other social and environmental concerns
Policy response EU Volume targets (10% added to fuel in 2020, max. 6% 1st generation fuel) Sustainability criteria (CO2, biodiversity, indirect effects) Lower volume targets because of fear of competition with food. Bigger focus on 2nd generation Reluctance to add social standards because of possible WTO inconsistency
NIS region is very relevant for the EU’s biomass policy, especially second generation. • Pilot Projects in Russia, Ukraine, Baltics • Questions on GM? Contamination? Governance of land rights