New Zealand the latest country to question biofuel legislation
The future of the biofuel legislation currently before New Zealand's parliament, hangs in the balance following calls from the country's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, for the bill not to proceed in its current form. International concern about the sustainability of biofuels and their true environmental and economic impacts, says Dr Wright, has heated up considerably in recent months – which signals a need for caution.
Biofuels are seen as a way of achieving both lower CO2 emissions and energy security. But Dr Wright does not believe the mechanisms allowed for in the Bill would deliver on these two goals. Biofuels appear to be carbon-neutral, because plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, and this is equal to the CO2 emitted when the fuel is burned. However this does not account for the CO2 emitted during cultivation and processing into fuel.
"Lifecycle assessment of a wide range of biofuels shows large variation in CO2 emissions across fuels and, in some cases, across countries," says Dr Wright. "Ethanol from corn in the US, for example, is a very poor performer, with total CO2 emissions close to those of diesel."
The Biofuel Bill has no inbuilt mechanism for ensuring that biofuels used in New Zealand would emit significantly less CO2 over their lifecycle than fossil fuels, and would require an Order in Council to set a minimum standard.
"Just ensuring a positive net reduction in CO2 would not go far enough to make a New Zealand Biofuel Obligation worthwhile," says Dr Wright.
Biofuels are seen as a way of achieving both lower CO2 emissions and energy security. But Dr Wright does not believe the mechanisms allowed for in the Bill would deliver on these two goals. Biofuels appear to be carbon-neutral, because plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, and this is equal to the CO2 emitted when the fuel is burned. However this does not account for the CO2 emitted during cultivation and processing into fuel.
"Lifecycle assessment of a wide range of biofuels shows large variation in CO2 emissions across fuels and, in some cases, across countries," says Dr Wright. "Ethanol from corn in the US, for example, is a very poor performer, with total CO2 emissions close to those of diesel."
The Biofuel Bill has no inbuilt mechanism for ensuring that biofuels used in New Zealand would emit significantly less CO2 over their lifecycle than fossil fuels, and would require an Order in Council to set a minimum standard.
"Just ensuring a positive net reduction in CO2 would not go far enough to make a New Zealand Biofuel Obligation worthwhile," says Dr Wright.
