Issues NavigatorGlobal Challenges
Strategic Regions
Domestic DebatesTag cloudSee All Tags |
TagsMost popular
Russia US NATO Iran EU Afghanistan China Obama Georgia US elections 2008 Iraq US Foreign Policy Israel Germany climate change financial crisis India McCain Pakistan terrorism Bush G8 UN democracy Kosovo nuclear proliferation Ukraine Poland Palestine Iraq war
All items tagged biofuelsOpen Think Tank ArticlesMay 26, 2008 | Biofuel for ThoughtJ. F. Laurson & G. A. Pieler: Biofuels may be one of the dumber of the grand, well intentioned ideas of this decade. Yet they are here to stay, not just because of the farm communities in Brazil, Europe, and the US, but because of the Zeitgeist that says source-diversification is the Holy Grail of energy policy. ... MoreGlobal Must Read ArticlesOctober 6, 2008 | "Another Inconvenient Truth"Producing biofuels will further drain “the world’s most valuable, irreplaceable and finite natural resource: fresh water.” ++ For example, 9,000 gal. of water are needed to make just one gal. of diesel fuel; 666 gal. are used daily to feed one person. ++ To have any effect on global energy problems, biofuels “will require much more water than the world can afford to give ... MoreJune 18, 2008 | Are Second Generation Biofuels a Curse or a Blessing?In the debate regarding climate change and the shortage of fossil fuels, biofuels were for a long time considered to be the ideal solution. However recently, they have increasingly come under fire. Critics denounce the fact that through production of ethanol and biodiesel, the foodstuffs which are urgently needed in poor countries end up in the gas tanks of Western cars. In addition, the ... MoreJune 10, 2008 | Domestic Politics Should Not Trump HungerThe decrease of large scale commercial agriculture in Africa and the loss of productivity in Asia are partly responsible for the critical need for worldwide food assistance. ++ A solution to the crisis requires both huge investments and the West’s acknowledgement of the role of biofuels and the disrupting nature of agricultural subsidies. ++ The established link between hunger ... MoreJune 10, 2008 | "The New World Energy Order"The future world energy order will have China, India, and Middle Eastern countries rather than OECD countries at its helm. ++ Conventional oil is likely to peak soon, and unconventional oil will then play an important role. ++ Since global oil resources are limited, it is only a matter of time before all oil will peak. ++ Though biofuels have received much criticism recently, without them fuel ... MoreMay 28, 2008 | Oil Prices Have Reached Their Break PointThere are three factors underlying the current rise in oil prices: rising global demand, increased costs for oil producers, and the relatively short time span in which supply has yet to adapt to these increased pressures. ++ Timely and efficient investment needs to be encouraged in resource-holding countries to improve supply. ++ However, oil has already reached its break point and is starting to ... MoreApril 23, 2008 | The Failure of Food-to-Fuel MandatesThe production of foodstuffs for biofuels was intended to reduce US energy dependency, mitigate climate change, and encourage crop-price stability. ++ Since they have proven highly inefficient, detrimental to the environment, and largely responsible for the global surge in food prices, the mandates need revisiting. ++ The US should now end the biofuel experiment and provide populations in need ... MoreApril 23, 2008 | Curbing Capitalism Could Contain the Food CrisisCapitalism and luxury consumption are responsible for the world’s environmental problems, and the emphasis on biofuels has created the global food crisis. ++ The solution is to change economic models, give up excess consumption, and put people before money. ++ Bolivia’s export restrictions will guarantee Bolivians food. ++ US-Bolivian relations need to be based on respect and cooperation should ... MoreApril 21, 2008 | "International Rice Market Has Become a War Zone"Cereal stocks have not been this low since 1980, but the food crisis can be explained by human greed. ++ To avoid mass hunger, climate change and trade protectionism must be addressed. ++ If international cooperation is brokered by the UN and World Bank, export embargoes on rice are removed, China lessens its demand for pork, and the US’s bioenergy policies are amended, then this crisis may be ... MoreMarch 14, 2008 | The High Cost of Decarbonizing the EconomyThe US and the EU should stop priding themselves for having slowed or reduced their CO2 output mainly thanks to the outsourcing of production to other parts of the world. ++ Environmentally sustainable consumption will require cutting living standards and massively restructuring major economies. ++ As consumption rather than production matters, biofuels and renewables are compounding the problem. ... MoreMarch 12, 2008 | India's Jatroph Nut: Perfect New Energy Source?Indian state Chhattisgarh is positioned to become biodiesel hub. ++ Local jatroph nut is inedible, grows on wasteland, requires little cultivation, and produces 3x more oil per hectare than soybeans - a cheap energy solution. ++ Despite potential, jatroph remains largely untested and may be unwise for India to invest in too soon - particularly due to India’s reputation for poorly implemented, ... MoreMarch 3, 2008 | Food Prices Soar: Few Are Able to Reap BenefitsFarmers are among the few beneficiaries of skyrocketing global food prices. ++ Governmental subsidies for producing biofuels combined with droughts and a growing demand for animal feed account for the high prices. ++ Food and energy issues are beginning to collide. ++ Speculation accounts for some of the price escalation, but as arable land becomes scarcer, prices are likely to remain high. ... MoreCommentsAugust 8, 2007 | Engdahl is right about one thing but it shows... |
CommunityJobs / InternshipsCall for PapersAtlantic EventsPartnersUser of the dayPoll |
