Biomass
Biofuels seemed ideal. They would lead to lower CO2 emissions and reduced dependence on oil imports from unstable or dictatorial countries. However, using biofuels will not prevent climate change and their production competes with food production. It would be better to invest money and energy in cleaner vehicles, better public transport and protection of forests. This way the last forests will be preserved and agricultural lands used for food will remain intact.
- Biokerosene
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The airline sector is busily searching for alternatives to kerosene. Made from crude oil, kerosene is responsible for much of CO2 emissions and is thereby a major contributor to climate change. Crude oil is also becoming harder and harder to extract, which is making it more expensive. The airline industry says that biokerosene is the answer. It is renewable’ since it is made from vegetable or animal ingredients. As attractive as that sounds, it is anything but a real solution.
- Earth Alarm 132
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Lufthansa has recently been using biokerosene made from jatropha, an inedible plant. The jatropha used for Lufthansa’s test flights comes from Indonesia. The small farmers in central Java who grow the jatropha are suffering. And flying on biokerosene isn’t good for the environment either, despite Lufthansa’s claims that it is. The Indonesian government and the Dutch company Waterland promised the sky to the farmers and agricultural workers. But the farmers haven’t gotten richer – in fact they’re poorer than ever. Therefore write Lufthansa and ask them to stop using Jatropha from the Waterland company and not to use biokerosene for commercial flights.
Publications
Milieudefensie is active for years on the subject biomass and has brought out several publications. Examine here among other things our reports concerning biomass.
Publications Biomass
