European plans to switch to biofuels would result in more greenhouse gas emission, not less, an independent analysis of European Union 2020 energy targets says.The EU decided in 2007 to cut greenhouse emissions by 20 percent by 2020, partly by replacing 10 percent of transportation fuel with biofuel, NewScientist.com reported.
The Institute for European Environmental Policy analysis says millions of acres of land would have to be cleared to grow enough crops to meet the transport fuel goal while still feeding Europe. That would release more than twice as much carbon as all of Europe's cars would produce if they stuck with gasoline, the institute said.
The institute calculated that 10 million to 17 million acres of uncultivated land would have to be cleared to grow biomass crops for biofuel and simultaneously feed the EU. Clearing land means chopping down forests and plowing grasslands, the institute says, releasing carbon stored in soil and vegetation and negating the carbon emissions saved by replacing fossil with biofuel.
The Institute for European Environmental Policy analysis says millions of acres of land would have to be cleared to grow enough crops to meet the transport fuel goal while still feeding Europe. That would release more than twice as much carbon as all of Europe's cars would produce if they stuck with gasoline, the institute said.
The institute calculated that 10 million to 17 million acres of uncultivated land would have to be cleared to grow biomass crops for biofuel and simultaneously feed the EU. Clearing land means chopping down forests and plowing grasslands, the institute says, releasing carbon stored in soil and vegetation and negating the carbon emissions saved by replacing fossil with biofuel.
