Side Event

Biofuels and biodiversity: tackling the real issues

Organizer
EcoNexus

Date and Time
2 May 2012 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Sixteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice

The evidence from many parts of the world shows how the push for biofuels and biomass for energy is having serious, often irreversible impacts on indigenous peoples, local communities and biodiversity. Furthermore biofuels incur a carbon debt at a time when we should sharply reduce emissions and look urgently at ecological limits. However, many states have set incentives for biofuel use including targets and subsidies, and biomass for heat and electricity is set to expand rapidly, for example in the EU. Yet, instead of questioning targets and consumption levels, discussion continues to focus on sustainability criteria for bioenergy. This side event examines fundamental questions about biofuels and biomass