This new report from the United Nations won't go over very well in some circles, even the utopians accustomed to taking the UN's word for everything.
While saying bioenergy represents an "extraordinary opportunity" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it warned that "rapid growth in liquid biofuel production will make substantial demands on the world's land and water resources at a time when demand for both food and forest products is also rising rapidly."Changes in the carbon content of soils and carbon stocks in forests and peat lands might offset some or all of the benefits of the greenhouse gas reductions, it said.
"Use of large-scale monocropping could lead to significant biodiversity loss, soil erosion and nutrient leaching,'' it said, adding that investments in bioenergy must be managed carefully, at national, regional and local levels to avoid new environmental and social problems "some of which could have irreversible consequences."
It noted that soaring palm oil demand has already led to the clearing of tropical forests in southeast Asia.
In addition, the diversion of food crops for fuel will increase food prices, putting a strain on the poor, as evidenced by the recent steep rise in maize and sugar prices, the report said.
"Liquid biofuel production could threaten the availability of adequate food supplies by diverting land and other productive resources away from food crops," it said, adding that many of those biofuel crops require the best land, lots of water and environment-damaging chemical fertilizers.
Of course, if you're an eco-zealot and think mankind is a virus, it's probably just confirmation that we're all doomed.
Posted by Alan at May 9, 2007 06:15 AM