UN says biofuel issue needs more debate

Karachi News.Net
Saturday 17th October, 2009

The United Nations Environment Program has suggested that biofuel development as a green energy option should only go ahead when countries adopt a sophisticated approach to the technology.

A report, conducted by UNEP's International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, has concluded that while biofuel production may appear to be a solution for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, some biofuels are much more climate-friendly than others.

For example, the study said that using ethanol fuel made from sugar cane, as practiced in some countries like Brazil, could lead to emissions reductions of up to 100 percent when substituted for fossil fuel.

But making bio-diesel from palm oil on deforested land could lead to a significant increase in emissions when compared to using gasoline.

The UNEP said much more debate and research would be needed to determine how best to use biofuels to combat climate change.

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