#2020q3

First off: what exactly are biofuels?

Check out the video below for a full rundown on what biofuels are:

Second: Do biofuels emit greenhouse gases?

Yes. Several studies show that biofuels are better than fossil fuels because the production of biomass crops (sugarcane, soybeans, corn etc.) will offset the co2 produced when burned. However the reality is different. In fact if you were to exclude offsetting, burning biomass directly emits a bit more carbon dioxide than fossil fuels for the same amount of generated energy but does burn less pollutants overall.

The drawback? Land use

So yes, companies claiming that biomass and biofuels are 100% renewable are in effect solely relying on the “offsetting” claim, which would come into play during the production process of biomass. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand biomass cultivation is a much cleaner process than fossil fuel extraction, on the other it needs insane amounts of land. Land that could be used for food production, or forest land that is cleared to make way for bioenergy cultivations. This begs the question: are they truly offsetting by planting crops or are they chopping down wild areas—that are already carbon sinks—to make way for biomass cultivations?

“Because land and the plants growing on it are already generating these benefits, diverting land – even degraded, under-utilised areas – to bioenergy means sacrificing much-needed food, timber, and carbon storage.” - the Guardian

Are all biofuels created equal?

No. Some biofuels are harnessed from excess food production ie. food waste. Biogas is a type of biofuel and an example of this, and it can be produced from food waste and organic waste. In Sweden it has been a source of energy since the 1960s. More R&D into algae biofuel is also promising, it wouldn’t have the land use issue however how and where the algae is planted will be of great importance.

Won’t burning too much biogas or biofuel produce too many greenhouse gases anyways?

Probably. But they are better than traditional fossil fuels. Waste-to-energy plants filter pollutants from their emissions such as nitrogen oxide, making them overall cleaner. Yes, our energy demands are too high for the planet, yet a circular model such as food-waste-energy can be a lesser evil overall.

Conclusion

The bioenergy industry has several flaws but definitely better intentions than the traditional fossil fuel industry. It has the potential of producing cleaner energy, however it is not 100% clean. It must face these drawbacks and as a society we should see them as a transitional energy source rather than truly renewable energy.

We are committed to doing everything in our power to protect the Amazon

Therefore we have started what we like to call The Resistance. A force of people who are genuinely worried about the Brazilian government’s shortcomings and the current mining crusade in the forest. Based worldwide The Resistance aims to provide assistance to Brazil’s mightiest fighters. From legal assistance to worldwide campaigning and financial support.

Polly Higgins was working as barrister in London. One day representing someone who had been injured during work she thought to herself: “Earth needs protecting too, it needs a good lawyer.” Soon after Polly quit her daily job and dedicated her life to defend one client only: Mother Earth.

In 2010 she presented to the UN her proposal to include ecocide as the fifth crime against peace at the International Criminal Court. She then launched the campaign “STOP ECOCIDE” with the aim to educate the larger public in Ecocide Law. Later, the campaign was refocused to fundraise for the “Earth Protectors Trust Fund,” which today finances “ecocide’s” representation at the annual Assembly of the International Criminal Court. In 2012 Polly also co-founded the Earth Law Alliance: A network of dedicated lawyers promoting life-sustaining laws. Throughout her carrier Polly authored several books about Earth Law, which today serve as a guide on how to implement Earth Law in governance.

In her leisure time Polly loved to drink whisky, eat chocolate and seaweed, and never missed a chance to explore the wilderness on her motorbike—espousing Pirsig’s Zen philosophy. Sadly, on April 21st 2019 Earth lost a protector, Polly Higgins passed away.

Polly’s lifework has laid the foundations for ecocide to become a crime. Her written contributions have helped Earth Law enter everyday legal discourse and her arduous campaigning has placed “ecocide” at the core of environmental activism.

Thank you Polly, as Earth’s most badass lawyer we’ll make sure your legacy lives on.