Biofuels are a popular solution to climate change and energy security, two of the largest, most urgent challenges facing governments around the world. But while there are positive principles that govern biomass production, Tearfund believes that the use of agricultural crops in the production of biofuels causes more damage than good. Using biofuels for energy may appear to be a sustainable approach, it can also cause food price inflation and a rise in hunger levels amongst the poorest communities, as well as environmental degradation and spikes in the rate of deforestation.
This position paper suggests alternatives to the use of agricultural crops in biomass production and presents key conclusions and policy recommendations.
