Even though biofuels seem to be better than fossilfuels, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the biofuels are beginning to harm the environment. Since Biofuels require a lot of water, this is causing water shortages in some areas of the world. Also, there is beginning to be a land shortage in order to supply enough biofuels. The effects of this is higher prices in important crops such as corn and possible food shortages in developing countries. Recently, scientists have also found that the energy crops are destroying natural forests, which play an important role in reducing global warming.
This issue seems to be like a pretty serious problem, because it is directly effecting the people who use biofuels and fossil fuels. Since we are quickly running out of fossil fuels, we were almost banking on the fact that biofuels were going to be the answer, and now it may not be. It doesnt seem like too many people know about this issue. Even though we need oil desperately, we need to decide what we need to do more: help the environment, which will help us in the long run, or get fuel, which satisfies our everyday needs.
www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/01/23/biofuels.fears.ap
2 comments:
This is a very interesting topic. It seems as though no matter what route is taken, there is going to be a consequence. I believe the biofuels seem to have a lot of negatives and will really affect most of the world in long run. It is a tough decision to be made on what approach needs to be taken in order to satisfy the needs of the people for fuel while not damaging the environment to a large extent.
Why are we in such desparate need of fuels? Is is such a terrible fate to have to live off the land? If it turns out that we cannot sustain a system of trucking our food around the country, then maybe we will have to tear up some of these empty parkin g lots all over greensboro and grow some damn cabbage. If that is not enough to sustain the population, then this many people should not be here.
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