Biofuel production and its effects on water availability
It is incredible that the long list of references to biofuels (see Spotlight on Biofuels) contains
only two references to water.
How much virtual water does Brazil, for example, export with its biofuels?
What will be the effects on availability of water for people who are already
suffering from water shortages?
Can one forecast that, as with suppliers of bottled water and soft drinks,
the biofuel industry will lead to the desiccation of poorer people and the
enrichment of the upper class — 'upper' in terms of wealth (including
lobbyists) and/or those able to influence governments or national, regional
and global decision-making bodies?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has drawn attention to some of
the effects of climate change on water availability over the next few
decades: how much will biofuel production affect them?
Contact information |
Mike Baker, Venterol, France
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News type | Inbrief |
File link |
http://www.scidev.net/EditorLetters/index.cfm?fuseaction=readeditorletter&itemid=138&language=1 |
Source of information | Scidev.Net |
Subject(s) | ANALYSIS AND TESTS , DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION : COMMON PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION AND TREATMENT , HEALTH - HYGIENE - PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISM , PREVENTION AND NUISANCES POLLUTION , RISKS AND CLIMATOLOGY |
Geographical coverage | International |
News date | 07/01/2008 |
Working language(s) | ENGLISH |