Using biofuel in cars 'may accelerate loss of rainforest'

The Times(UK) ^ | 01/29/10 | Ben Webster

[TigerLikesRooster]

Using biofuel in cars 'may accelerate loss of rainforest'

Ben Webster, Environment Editor

Harvesting of palm oil, the production of which is leading to loss of rainforest

Using biofuel in vehicles may be accelerating the destruction of rainforest and resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions than burning pure petrol and diesel, a watchdog said yesterday.

The Renewable Fuels Agency also warned that pump prices could rise in April because of the Government’s policy of requiring fuel companies to add biofuel to petrol and diesel. More than 1.3 million hectares of land — twice the area of Devon — was used to grow the 2.7 per cent of Britain’s transport fuel that came from crops last year.

Under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, a growing proportion of biofuel must be added to diesel and petrol. This year fuel must be at least 3.25 per cent biofuel on average. By 2020 the proportion will be 13 per cent.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Lib response...”don’t bother me with the systems engineering analysis and the engineering economics! In my heart, I KNOW it’s the right thing to be doing.”

[steelyourfaith]

Thanx !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[a fool in paradise]

The goal is to get people out of cars altogether. “oops” is just a stepping stone to getting there.

[Dallas59]

Lol...They just can’t win for losing.

[pray4liberty]

Goodness. For all that rhetoric, I don’t see any of these diehard liberals walking or biking to work, in fair weather or foul.

[Oceander]

Hoist on your own petard!

[OneWingedShark]

Um, what about all the biofuel produced from other things... like lard, cow-fat, frenchfry-grease, etc?

It’s my opinion that these ‘environmentalists’ don’t give a rat-shit about the environment... they just want to dictate what you can and cannot do.

[hinckley buzzard]

The fact is, the "Rain Forest" as "the lungs of the earth" is another liberal phoney baloney myth. Whether growing indigenous vegetation or palm plants for oil, the region produces the same amount of oxygen and then uses it-- A net zero to the world at large. I like the idea of the rain forest, and might like to visit it one day-- but you could pave the rainforest with asphalt and it would make zero difference to the world atmosphere.

[Mike Darancette]

This year fuel must be at least 3.25 per cent biofuel on average. By 2020 the proportion will be 13 per cent.

What will be their excuse for the famine that results?

[ari-freedom]

they want us to live like this:

[Army Air Corps]

It’s my opinion that these ‘environmentalists’ don’t give a rat-shit about the environment... they just want to dictate what you can and cannot do.

Bingo!

[DrDavid]

What will be their excuse for the famine that results?

They will complain that people aren't buying enough biofuels (they have died from famine) and up the proportion. Aren't we considering upping the ethanol because production is greater than consumption?

[Oztrich Boy]

“There are over seven hundred things in the Rainforest that cause cancer. Join the fight now and help stop the Rainforest before it’s too late. “