BioFools

by
Patrick Whelan

There are many throughout the world, especially in the United States, who still believe biofuels are the best answer to alternative energy to reduce the need for fossil fuels and fight global warming. It appears to be an all around win for farmers, government, business, and the environment. However, The Economist is reporting that biofuels produce nitrous oxide which is a greater contributor to climate change than carbon dioxide. The purpose of biofuels is to reduce the amount of surplus of carbon dioxide. When biofuels grow as crops such as sugar cane, corn, oilseed rape and wheat, they take in carbon dioxide. Scientist and others believed that when these crops are used as fuel in cars and trucks there should be no effect on the gas that is burning unlike a car or truck that uses gasoline.

A team of scientist working for the International Council for Science (ICSU) have concluded that scientist for years have ignored the effect of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is not a common gas in the earths atmosphere but when it is realist from cars who use biofuels it is more potent than carbon dioxide and it according to the Economist "Hangs around longer." The reason this horrible gas called nitrous oxide exists in crops is that is is made by bacteria that live in soil and water. In current times, farmers welcome the nitrogen rich fertilizer that is used to increase crop growth. The Economist reports, "The nitrogen cycle is changing faster and more profoundly than the carbon cycle."

The real problem is that governments throughout the world subsidize and actively promoting biofuels as appropriate ways to combat global warming and expand their economies. Western nations such as Australia, France, Germany, Poland, and Spain are expanding their use of biofuels with the U.S. leading the way wanting to increase its production of biofuels to up to one hundred and thirty-six billion litres by 2022. Governments need to take into account the economic and ecological consequences that come with using biofuels. Besides producing biofuels that produce nitrous oxide, biofuels use a lot of water in its production and the growing corn for fuel use only raises the price of feed for diary and pig farmers. Governments need to focus on raising fuel efficiency standards and increasing the possibility of an electric car with great range.

Happy Earth day