07 Aug '15 15:35>9 edits
This report into a study into the impact into biofuel crops would be fine if it wasn't for a misleading statement:
http://phys.org/news/2015-08-emissions-biofuels-shortages.html
The title says:
"Cutting emissions through biofuels will lead to water shortages – study"
Note it says "through biofuels will..." and not "through biofuel crops will..." i.e. crops grown specifically grown for biofuels and which typically, like most crops, require lots of irrigation.
It then only talks about only those biofuels from biofuel crops and how the fact that the need to irrigate them will put pressure on water resources.
The problem with that is that biofuel crops are not the only means by which biofuels can be made. What about biofuels from waste organic matter? That doesn't require irrigation! Although, admittedly, biofuels from waste organic matter is still largely in the research stage, it isn't all in the research stage and it will be just a matter of time before more of it will come out of the lab and into the real world and we be able to use most of our organic waste to make biofuels. But this link doesn't even mention that thus giving the false impression, I think, that all biofuels necessarily WILL require biofuel crops and thus potentially put large pressure on our water resources.
it also says:
"Climate change mitigation could actually increase water shortage in some areas rather than reduce it, according to new research."
Well, as it is only biofuel crops that might cause that problem, if that is a problem, the solution is simple; don't grow them there! And if that means not growing them anywhere, all that would mean is, as biofuels from crops are not essential for going carbon neutral as there are many other renewables that can be used instead and we can make all our cars electric, just do climate change mitigation without biofuel crops -simple!
P.S. I don't know why but I am prevented from editing out the spelling error I made in the title of my thread and yet I am allowed to make corrections to the rest of the post.
http://phys.org/news/2015-08-emissions-biofuels-shortages.html
The title says:
"Cutting emissions through biofuels will lead to water shortages – study"
Note it says "through biofuels will..." and not "through biofuel crops will..." i.e. crops grown specifically grown for biofuels and which typically, like most crops, require lots of irrigation.
It then only talks about only those biofuels from biofuel crops and how the fact that the need to irrigate them will put pressure on water resources.
The problem with that is that biofuel crops are not the only means by which biofuels can be made. What about biofuels from waste organic matter? That doesn't require irrigation! Although, admittedly, biofuels from waste organic matter is still largely in the research stage, it isn't all in the research stage and it will be just a matter of time before more of it will come out of the lab and into the real world and we be able to use most of our organic waste to make biofuels. But this link doesn't even mention that thus giving the false impression, I think, that all biofuels necessarily WILL require biofuel crops and thus potentially put large pressure on our water resources.
it also says:
"Climate change mitigation could actually increase water shortage in some areas rather than reduce it, according to new research."
Well, as it is only biofuel crops that might cause that problem, if that is a problem, the solution is simple; don't grow them there! And if that means not growing them anywhere, all that would mean is, as biofuels from crops are not essential for going carbon neutral as there are many other renewables that can be used instead and we can make all our cars electric, just do climate change mitigation without biofuel crops -simple!
P.S. I don't know why but I am prevented from editing out the spelling error I made in the title of my thread and yet I am allowed to make corrections to the rest of the post.