This briefing paper reviews evidence of the impacts of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on food prices, with a focus on corn and soy, and presents new analysis on the impact of the RFS on U.S. livestock farmers. Studies examining the relationship between food prices and biofuel demand conclude …
EU politicians backed a compromise on Tuesday that would give carmakers limited leeway in the race to cut CO2 emissions in line with targets while rejecting German calls for more lenient rules. The issue of how strictly to enforce European Union (EU) efficiency rules to reduce fuel use, curb reliance …
Greener cars that use alternative fuels could help the United States slash its greenhouse gas emissions from everyday driving a full 80 per cent by 2050, according to a scientific study out today. That could lead to a more than 10 per cent cut in overall US pollution into the …
Greener cars that use alternative fuels could help the United States slash its greenhouse gas emissions from everyday driving a full 80 per cent by 2050, according to a scientific study out today. That could lead to a more than 10 per cent cut in overall US pollution into the …
The potential for regional climate change arising from adoption of policies to increase production of biofuel feedstock is explored using a regional climate model. Two simulations are performed using the same atmospheric forcing data for the period 1979–2004, one with present-day land use and monthly phenology and the other with …
The felling of natural forest for palm oil plantations has enraged campaigners looking to protect orangutans An all-party scrutiny committee agreed new payments for renewable energy - including palm oil. This commodity is blamed for creating more greenhouse gases than it saves, and for destroying the rainforest habitat of orangutans. …
Aviation pollution can only be stabilized by the middle of the century if a price is set on airline carbon emissions, research said, countering industry hopes that green goals can be met via technology improvements and biofuels. A European Union program to force airlines using EU airports to pay for …
Businesses and environmentalists remain deeply divided over California's landmark carbon cap-and-trade program, with industry calling it a job-killing nightmare and clean energy proponents saying it has positioned the state as a global leader in tackling climate change. The strong feelings over the policy were on display at a conference last …
The global emergence of biofuels over the last two decades has been met with increased concerns over climate change and sustainable development. This report addresses the core issue of biofuel sustainability and related feedstocks, drawing from a wide range of studies, reports and policy initiatives. The report critically examines the …
Corn ethanol would get a larger share of the U.S. gasoline market under a government proposal on Thursday while ranchers, environmentalists and the oil industry aim to kill the renewable fuels mandate altogether. The Obama administration proposed a 9 percent increase in the so-called renewable fuels standard from 2012, in …
Growing palm oil trees to make biofuels could be accelerating the effects of climate change, new research showed on Wednesday, adding further weight to claims the crop is not environmentally sustainable. In a paper published in the journal Nature, an international team of scientists examined how the deforestation of peat …
This roadmap sets out one pathway by which the Indian cement industry can reach its targets to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by 2050, thereby laying the foundation for low-carbon growth in the years beyond. This roadmap sets out one pathway by which the Indian cement industry can …
The number of companies voluntarily disclosing their forest footprint has increased by almost 15% compared to last year, according to a report. The fourth annual Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) report, published today, revealed the increase in discloser numbers and the first reports from multi-nationals such as Colgate-Palmolive Co., Groupe Danone, …
OECD report says pollution will become biggest cause of premature death, killing an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050. Air pollution is set to become the biggest environmental cause of premature death in the coming decades, overtaking even such mass killers as poor sanitation and a lack of …
Updated each year, the Outlook analyzes the trends that will shape global energy supply and demand over the coming decades. This year's report reveals a number of key findings about how we use energy, how much we will need in the future and what types of fuels will meet demand. …
The outlook highlights the growing role of developing economies in global energy consumption, and the increasing share of non-fossil fuels in global energy supply. It emphasizes the importance of both improving energy efficiency and expanding energy supplies to meet the energy needs of billions of people who aspire to better …
Food and nutritional security (FNS) is a complex issue given its reliance on climatic as well as non-climatic factors that are intertwined and interdependent. When climate change is superimposed, it further worsens the situation as food production, one of the critical ecosystem services, is impacted the most. This position paper …
Smog digest is a news service on vehicular pollution based on news clippings selected from leading Indian newspapers and newsmagazine. It also highlights the key developments from South Asian countries. The months witnessed lots of action and developments on the vehicular pollution front in India.
Electricity generated from renewables increased from 9.1% in the third quarter of 2011, to 11.7% in the third quarter of 2012, according to latest figures. Renewable electricity generation was 9.5TWh in the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 25.2% on the 7.6 TWh in the third quarter of 2011. …
The amount of land needed to grow crops worldwide is at a peak and an area more than twice the size of France can return to nature by 2060 due to rising yields and slower population growth, a group of experts said on Monday. The report, conflicting with U.N. studies …
A group of U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday that they plan to push ahead in the new year to change the tax code so renewable energy projects could qualify for beneficial tax structures commonly used by pipelines and other energy-related companies. Democratic and Republican sponsors of proposed legislation said they …
