I’ve recently read an eye-opening article on the plant based bio fuels and their effect on the environment. In the on-going process of trying to find alternate sources of energy, it seems people are grabbing at any opportunity to get away from the conventional oil based fuel (especially with the prices of oil constantly on the rise). Knowing that there are countries, like Brazil, which are totally self-sufficient as far as fuel and energy are concerned, others are looking into the whole bio fuels business. However, one must ask is it really the greenest and most environmentally friendly solution?
According to a number of scientists, plant based bio fuels are not an answer to climate change and global warming; quite the contrary. Directly or indirectly, intentionally or not, the plantations of plants like soy or corn lead to enormous land clearings which cause huge amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Moreover, the industry wipes out biodiversity, destroys soil, pollutes freshwater and displaces communities pushing the native people further into the forest. More to the point, biodiesel (made from soy) can only satisfy a fraction of the world’s need for fuel but it threatens the remaining ecosystems, mainly the Amazon. 21 million hectares of ancient forest have already been destroyed and the remaining 80 million, including the Amazon basin, are deemed suitable for further deforestation. Scientists warn that the destruction of the Amazon will increase the rate of global warming by about 50% and cause a myriad of species of wildlife go extinct.
It seems the population of this beautiful planet has come to an impasse. With the industrial revolutions of the previous two centuries and our arrogant disregard for the natural resources, we now find ourselves quite in trouble, frantically trying to find alternate solutions. However, the easiest solutions put forward by the governments and industrial giants are really just adding to the predicament. So is there a way out? I do hope so. As a matter of fact, there are other technologies, like hydrogen (see “Energy Crisis a Hoax?”), solar and wind power that help reduce our dependency on oil based fuels. The best thing to do is simply stop trying to find the easiest way out because this really is not the way to go…
The first technology to create ethanol is not the answer. But the current technology of it is. It is not the end all be all, but it is the best solution we have right now. Hydrogen is a long way out. It is way too expensive to put the infrastructure in place and the cars are just not available. Ethanol can be used in every car on the market and even the older cars, right now, with a few minor modifications.
Cellulose ethanol is using plant wastes, not food product, to produce ethanol much, much more efficiently. That is the solution.
Thanks for your commnet. However, I think you might have misunderstood my article. I am not denying the benfits of some of the plant based bio fuels. I am only trying to show that this isn’t really a solution to our problems and that we should be wary and still search for something better, that’s all.