Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Dale, Bruce E
• Anderson, James E
• Brown, Robert C
• Csonka, Steven
• Dale, Virginia H
• Herwick, Gary
• Jackson, Randall D
• Jordan, Nicholas
• Kaffka, Stephen
• Kline, Keith L
• Lynd, Lee R
• Malmstrom, Carolyn
• Ong, Rebecca G
• Richard, Tom L
• Taylor, Caroline
• Wang, Michael Q

Titel

Take a Closer Look: Biofuels Can Support Environmental, Economic and Social Goals

Ist Teil von

• Environmental science & technology, 2014-07, Vol.48 (13), p.7200-7203

Ort / Verlag

Washington, DC: American Chemical Society

Erscheinungsjahr

2014

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The US Congress passed the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) seven years ago. Since then, biofuels have gone from darling to scapegoat for many environmentalists, policy makers, and the general public. The reasons for this shift are complex and include concerns about environmental degradation, uncertainties about impact on food security, new access to fossil fuels, and overly optimistic timetables. As a result, many people have written off biofuels. However, numerous studies indicate that biofuels, if managed sustainably, can help solve pressing environmental, social and economic problems (Figure 1). The scientific and policy communities should take a closer look by reviewing the key assumptions underlying opposition to biofuels and carefully consider the probable alternatives. Liquid fuels based on fossil raw materials are likely to come at increasing environmental cost. Sustainable futures require energy conservation, increased efficiency, and alternatives to fossil fuels, including biofuels.