Brazil to ask countries to quadruple biofuel use, leak suggests

"It argues in the document that biofuels made from a wide variety of organic matter such as sugar cane in the case of ethanol will displace fossil fuels, and that they represent a benefit to the climate and environment. But this is disputed by green experts and campaigners, who point out that biofuel production is resulting in increased deforestation in many regions, leading to the replacement of land that is rich in species with monocultures, and reducing the land available for food production."

"A study by the Transport and Environment thinktank, published this month, shows that at present biofuels are responsible globally for 16% more CO2 emissions than the fossil fuels they replace due to the indirect impacts of farming and deforestation. The report found that by 2030, biofuels crops would require land the size of France, which would make it the sixth largest country in terms of arable land use globally;"

A draft pledge would increase global biofuel use fourfold relative to 2024 levels within the next decade. Brazil, the world's second-largest ethanol producer, argues that biofuels made from organic matter such as sugar cane will displace fossil fuels and benefit the climate and environment. Green experts and campaigners warn that biofuel expansion is driving deforestation, replacing biodiverse land with monocultures, and reducing land available for food production. A Transport and Environment study finds current biofuels produce 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels they replace once indirect farming and deforestation impacts are included. The study also projects vast land and water demands and states that solar power can generate comparable energy while using far less land.

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