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 …
This study examines the four options being considered by the European Commission for dealing with indirect land use change (ILUC) arising from the use of biofuels under the Renewable Energy Directive. An alternative approach is developed that would encourage producers and growers to undertake practices that mitigate ILUC. This study …
Key World Energy Statistics produced by the IEA contains timely, clearly-presented data on supply, transformation and consumption of all major energy sources.
As the global population hits 7 billion this month, ActionAid has today warned that a triple crisis of climate change, desolated natural resources and rocketing food prices, could dwarf the world’s ability to feed them all. Based on new research in 28 poor countries, ActionAid’s report 7 Billion on the …
Growing demand for biofuels, extreme weather, climate change and increased financial activity through commodity future markets are the main causes of high and volatile food prices, according to this 2011 Global Hunger Index report. This year’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that global hunger has declined since 1990, but not …
This issue brief highlights the latest major research in climate change science and technology. It presents a synthesis of current understanding of global warming at a critically important time, as the world continues to negotiate a comprehensive international climate agreement and countries begin to implement their national greenhouse gas emission …
In the lead-up to the UN climate negotiations in Durban, the latest information on the level and growth of CO2 emissions, their source and geographic distribution will be essential to lay the foundation for a global agreement. This annual publication contains: estimates of CO2 emissions by country from 1971 to …
fuelled by the turbulence of world agricultural markets, the debate on relations among agriculture, food security, natural resources, population growth and economic development has been revamped over the last few years. how are growth prospects and the expected evolution of per capita income in the long term going to affect …
This paper looks at the ways in which clean energy is being governed in India. It analyses and seeks to explain the nature of governance arrangements and policy-making processes around the development of energy sources and technologies defined as ‘clean’ both by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and beyond. Such …
Major British independent oil firm Greenergy sees its future as an exploration company, but one that hunts for fuel in piles of stale pork pies and cakes rather than under the ground or from food crops. The refined oil product wholesaler is still investing in the embattled European Union biodiesel …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of Canadian crops such as canola and corn in U.S. biofuels on Thursday, a move that lifted Canadian canola prices and may help the U.S. meet its ambitious targets for biofuels. The EPA's designation of Canadian crops as a renewable biomass will …
U.S. university researchers will get $136 million to develop advanced biofuels, including to develop jet fuel, by using tall grasses, woody plants and energy cane, the U.S. government said on Wednesday. Nearly two-thirds of the money will go toward aviation biofuels projects in the Pacific Northwest, including efforts to develop …
Forty percent of the world’s hungry people lived in South Asia even before the food price crisis of 2008. Hunger stalks the entire region, from the mountain slopes of Nepal to the arid plains of southern Afghanistan. Although large-scale famines have largely been kept at bay, millions of poor people …
In May 2011, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented its report on potential of renewable energy (RE) which emphasizes significant future role of RE in cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and powering sustainable development. A global team of technological experts and scientists reviewed over 160 scenarios on the …
The rise in agricultural commodities prices has led to the lowest support by rich countries to their farmers in nearly three decades, according to new figures released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The share of farmers income derived of subsidies fell in 2010 to 18 per cent …
The spores survived and germinated after being exposed to 115 degree C for two hours Can the mesophilic fungal spores that normally grow at 20 degree C to 35 degree C survive higher temperatures and still be able to germinate when the conditions are right? Believe it or not, laboratory …
Washington: Believe it or not, a scientist in UK has built a microwave which he claims can turn orange peel into oil. James Clark at the University of York says the highpowered microwave could break down the molecules in fruit peel to release gases that could be collected and distilled …
Existing targets for biofuels and other forms of bioenergy are based on flawed carbon accounting and should be revised downwards, a draft report by a panel of 19 top European scientists showed. "It is widely assumed that bioenergy is inherently carbon-neutral -- however this assumption is flawed," said the Scientific …
KOLKATA, 11 SEPT: The “twin city” agreement between Naples and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), signed way back in 2003, is going to open a new chapter with an NGO coming up with an initiative to organise a programme to encourage use of renewable energy as part of the agreement. Ms …
Increased focus has been placed on the issues of energy access and energy poverty over the last number of years, most notably indicated by the United Nations (UN) declaring 2012 as the “International Year of Sustainable Energy for All”. Although attention in these topics has increased, incorrect assumptions and misunderstandings …
The links between climate change and industrial agriculture create a nexus of crises—food insecurity, natural resource depletion and degradation, as well as human rights violations and inequities. A central theme throughout this report is that policies and practices must begin with the ecological imperative in order to ensure authentic security …
