Tag Archives: Biofuels

Feeding aircraft while people go hungry

Posted on March 17, 2023 by John Gibbons

As the squeeze on heavy users of fossil fuels to be seen to be cleaning up their act intensifies, there is now a flurry of activity especially from the aviation sector behind promoting “renewable” fuels such as biofuels and synthetic … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

EU “may adapt” 10% biofuel target

Posted on July 6, 2010 by James Nix

The scientific perspective could “kill biofuels” – that’s what the head of the EU’s agriculture unit said to colleagues in response to data showing the global ramifications of dedicating land in Europe to biofuels. The new Commissioner has said “if … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Let them eat cake

Posted on April 14, 2008 by John Gibbons

It takes around 230 kg of corn to feed a child in the ‘developing world’ for a year, according to UN estimates. By a ghoulish coincidence, that’s around the same amount of corn as is needed to produce enough biofuel … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Feast or famine

Posted on March 3, 2008 by John Gibbons

Food, or more precisely the lack of food, is deeply ingrained in the Irish psyche. Small wonder, having been victims of the worst western European famine of the last 250 years. In today’s world of plenty, where the local Tesco … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Getting some real wind in our sails

Posted on February 12, 2008 by John Gibbons

You only have to look at a map of Ireland’s rugged western seaboard to get some idea of the power of wave and wind in shaping our coastline. In Connemara the sparse tree cover leans away from the sea at … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wising up to the reality of biofuels

Posted on January 17, 2008 by John Gibbons

The EU is next week due to propose a ban on imports of many kinds of biofuels. If approved by European governments, the law would prohibit importing fuels made from crops grown on certain kinds of land — including grasslands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment