UNCTAD panel on biofuels says no silver bullet, but no silver critique either
In Brazil, UNCTAD organized a biofuels panel on the eve of the official opening of the Rio+20 global development summit, which it said was aimed at exploring new sustainable and socially inclusive biofuels experiences in developing and least developed countries. Least Developed Countries score the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world, and have a three-year average gross national income per capita of less than $905 per year.
Introducing the event, Mr. Guillermo Valles, Director of UNCTAD’s Trade Division, explained the notion of no one-size-fits-all: “While we recognize that biofuels represents a promising option to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, we also know that criticism abounds. We therefore deem it important to have a forum to debate national experiences and create the necessary dialogue. And while there is not one solution for all countries, there is also no one single critique that applies to biofuel production in all countries.”
At the meeting, Professor Daniel de la Torre Ugarte from the University of Tennessee explained how food, energy uses and environmental concerns could be balanced, reminding participants that when introducing policy instruments we must not forget there is a cost and policy decisions have market consequences.”
Category: Fuels
