Author: James Smith Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN: 1848135734 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 161
Book Description
Biofuels and the Globalization of Risk offers a fresh, compelling analysis of the politics and policies behind the biofuels story, with its technological optimism and often-idealized promises for the future. This essential new critique argues that investment in biofuels may reconfigure risk and responsibility, whereby the global South is encouraged to invest its future in growing biofuel crops, often at the expense of food, in order that the global North may continue its unsustainable energy consumption unabated and guilt-free. Thus, Smith argues, biofuels may constitute the biggest change in North-South relationships since colonialism.
Author: James Smith (Africanist) Publisher: ISBN: 9781350218666 Category : Biomass energy Languages : en Pages : 151
Book Description
Biofuels and the Globalization of Risk offers a fresh, compelling analysis of the politics and policies behind the biofuels story, with its technological optimism and often-idealized promises for the future. This essential new critique argues that investment in biofuels may reconfigure risk and responsibility, whereby the global South is encouraged to invest its future in growing biofuel crops, often at the expense of food, in order that the global North may continue its unsustainable energy consumption unabated and guilt-free. Thus, Smith argues, biofuels may constitute the biggest change in North--South relationships since colonialism.
Author: Claudia Ringler Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 3642046150 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 268
Book Description
In recent years, a greater level of integration of the world economy and an opening of national markets to trade has impacted virtually all areas of society. The process of globalization has the potential to generate long-term benefits for developing countries, including enhanced technology and knowledge transfers and new fina- ing options supporting agricultural and economic development. However, risks of political and economic instability, increased inequality, and losses in agricultural income and production for countries that subsidize their agricultural and other e- nomic sectors threaten to offset potential benefits. Globalization can also have a profound impact on the water sector – in terms of allocation and use of water – and thus on food security as well. Other global change processes, particularly climate change, are also likely to have far-reaching impacts on water and food security, and societies around the world. To discuss these issues in-depth, the International Food Policy Research Institute, the Third World Centre for Water Management, Mexico, and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica, held a three-day International Conference on “Globalization and Trade: Implications for Water and Food Security,” at CATIE’s Turrialba, Costa Rica, headquarters under the auspices of the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food in 2005. The workshop set out to identify the major risks and emerging issues facing developing countries related to global economic and environmental change impacts on water and food security.
Author: Zaman Sajid Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Being depletable, scarce, hostile to the environment and non-renewable in nature, petroleum-based fossil fuels are diminishing much faster than a decade ago. These scarcity concerns, negative environmental consequences and the gradual depletion of petroleum fuels have led to explore alternate, inexhaustible and renewable energy resources. One promising energy resource is biofuel, which is produced from renewable biomass feedstock. The reasons for sustainability and viability of biofuels are that they are economically feasible to produce and have positive environmental impacts. Since biofuels research is quite diversified, the sustainability and viability of biofuels face many challenges. This thesis investigates existing and future technological and knowledge challenges and proposes new methods to improve bio-energy sustainability both economically and environmentally. The economic viability of biofuels is associated with biofuel cost estimation, the revenue earned, and the profit gained. This research evaluates the cost risk escalation and identifies the key cost factors associated with the economic viability of biofuels. To achieve this objective, this research presents an innovative methodology to perform probabilistic economic risk analysis of biofuel, and particularly biodiesel. Being stochastic in nature, the proposed methodology addresses the shortcomings of traditional biodiesel process economics and provides flexibility to deal with uncertainty in biodiesel process economics. The environmental aspects covered in this research are environmental impacts caused by all inputs to the biodiesel production process, including biomass feedstock, fresh or recycled materials and energy streams and outputs such as biodiesel, by-products and waste materials discharged into the soil and air. To address the influences of potential risks on biodiesel production and its environmental impacts, this thesis presents a new approach to perform probabilistic economic modelling, qualitative and quantitative risk assessment of biodiesel key performance indicators (KPIs) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of biodiesel fuel. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) is used to model causation behaviour of the biodiesel process, operations and design risk factors. The basic premise of ISM is that qualitative interdependent relationships among various risk factors are achieved through experts' opinions and a scientific approach. This thesis develops an objective risk analysis approach to integrate ISM and uses a Bayesian network (BN) to define the relationship and the strength of relationship among various cost related risk factors and studies their impact on biodiesel process economics. Addressing global environmental issues and considering the vital need of edible oil for food, this thesis also presents the LCA of biodiesel being produced from inedible oils and waste cooking oil (WCO) and performs the investigation using a systematic approach of life cycle thinking. The negative environmental consequences of biodiesel fuels on climate change (global warming), ecosystem quality and human health are explored in detail. The study also identifies the total environmental impacts of using these biomass feedstocks. A comparative LCA study of technological processes identifies which biodiesel production process has the most and the fewest ecological impacts and energy requirements. Finally, this research develops advanced methods for biodiesel process economics such as process value at risk (VaR), to be used in assessing the performance of biodiesel systems. The stochastic modelling process and interdependence of a BN format help to investigate the most significant risk factors in the biodiesel process and operations. The results facilitate the decision-making process for new product development (NPD) and process development, especially at a large industrial scale. Applications of the proposed economic risk assessment framework along with an LCA study help to develop effective biodiesel policy-making by describing scientific uncertainties related to process economics and the environmental impact of biodiesel production technologies. In another arena of application, this thesis helps to develop a strategic decision-making process for supply chain management of biomass feedstock as well as biodiesel. It also enhances the biodiesel process-based risk informed decision-making process by incorporating techno-economic and life cycle accounting decisions.
Author: Worldwatch Institute Publisher: Routledge ISBN: 1136570926 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 518
Book Description
The world is on the verge of an unprecedented increase in the production and use of biofuels for transport. The combination of rising oil prices, issues of security, climate instability and pollution, deepening poverty in rural and agricultural areas, and a host of improved technologies, is propelling governments to enact powerful incentives for the use of these fuels, which is in turn sparking investment. Biofuels for Transport is a unique and comprehensive assessment of the opportunities and risks of the large-scale production of biofuels. The book demystifies complex questions and concerns, such as thefood v. fuel debate. Global in scope, it is further informed by five country studies from Brazil, China, Germany, India and Tanzania. The authors conclude that biofuels will play a significant role in our energy future, but warn that the large-scale use of biofuels carries risks that require focused and immediate policy initiatives. Published in association with BMELV, FNR and GTZ.
Author: Madhu Khanna Publisher: Springer ISBN: 1493969064 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 442
Book Description
In its second volume, this book aims to link the academic research with development in the real world and provide a historical and institutional background that can enrich more formal research. The first section will include an assessment of the evolution and the state of the nascent second-generation biofuel as well as a perspective on the evolution of corn ethanol and sugarcane ethanol in Brazil. It will also include a historical and institutional background on the biofuel industry in Brazil that has global lessons, and later, provide a technical overview of major analytical tools used to assess the economic, land use and greenhouse gas implications of biofuel policies at a regional and global level. Additionally, the book analyzes the various drivers for land use change both at a micro-economic level and at a macro-economic level. It presents studies that apply regional and global economic models to examine the effects of biofuel policies in the US, EU and Brazil on regional and global land use, on food and fuel prices and greenhouse gas emissions. These papers illustrate the use of partial and general equilibrium modeling approaches to simulate the effects of various biofuel policies, and includes studies showing the effects of risk aversion, time preferences and liquidity constraints on farmers decision to grow energy crops for biofuel production. By presenting the tools of lifecycle analysis for assessing the direct greenhouse gas intensity of biofuels, this handbook investigates the types of indirect or market mediated effects that can offset or strengthen these direct effects. It will include tools to assess the direct and indirect effects of biofuel production on greenhouse gas emissions in the US and Brazil, and ultimately provide a comprehensive background to understand the state of biofuel in the present and how to analyze their implication.
Author: Tom James Publisher: Wiley ISBN: 9780470826003 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
A detailed guide to the multiple industries that affect the global biofuels market The Global Biofuels Market provides an in-depth view of the global biofuels industry and its emergence in Asia, the Middle East, and the US. With a focus on the practical trading and distribution of biofuels, this book covers all key elements traders, green entrepreneurs, and energy consumers need to know about both the established and emerging markets around the world. Coverage of handling, storage, refining, and distribution provide valuable insight into the various factors that affect the market, and detailed discussion of trading, pricing, and price risk management describes how potential issues can be identified, planned for, and mitigated. Given how policy can dramatically influence the biofuels market, this book includes an extensive foray into the political and regulatory aspects including taxation, policy drivers, and global standards including ASTM, EU, and Asian developments. The biofuels market entails so much more than just the fuel itself. From feedstock to transportation to storage, biofuels touch multiple industries on the journey from seed to tank. This book helps the savvy investor understand how each aspect of the industry impacts the market, to inform better investment strategy and decisions. Understand how multiple industries feed into biofuel production Learn how market structure and trade flow vary throughout the world Delve into the politics of biofuels to find the policy drivers Examine the risk management aspect of the market, with an eye toward the future The global energy markets are among the fastest growing in the world, and shifting economic balances are resulting in tremendous changes to the status quo. The Global Biofuels Market provides invaluable insight into the ongoing developments, and what they mean for the future of global resources.
Book Description
Global Bioethanol: Evolution, Risks, and Uncertainties explores the conceptual and methodological approaches for the understanding of bioethanol technologies, policies and future perspectives. After a decade of huge investments made by big companies and governments all around the world, it is time to talk about the real conditions in which bioethanol will (or will not) evolve. Uncertainties and certainties are discussed and addressed to understand the futures of global bioethanol. The book analyses the evolution of bioethanol in the world’s energy mix under technological, economic and commercial perspectives. It gives particular emphasis on the innovative trajectories of second-generation ethanol and their potential in different countries and regions. Future scenarios are proposed in order to evaluate the possible outcomes of ethanol in a global perspective. For providing a thorough overview of the bioethanol sector from different points of view, this book is a very useful resource for all involved with biofuels in general and bioethanol in particular, including energy engineers, researchers, consultants, analysts and policy makers. Presents a thorough examination of the uncertainties surrounding bioethanol in the future global energy mix Provides a data-driven and updated picture on the technological, economic, and market trends and scenarios for bioethanol Offers a foresight analysis on the perspectives of bioethanol as a global commodity Includes a prospective about who is going to lead the new trajectories in the global arena
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. ISBN: 9789251059807 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 144
Book Description
The State of Food and Agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the rapid recent growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities -- Back cover.
Author: Terry Allan Hicks Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC ISBN: 1627129332 Category : Juvenile Nonfiction Languages : en Pages : 82
Book Description
Learn about the oldest energy source: biofuel, how it has evolved over time, its benefits and downfalls, and what its use means for Earths future.
Author: James Smith
Author: James Smith (Africanist)
Author: Claudia Ringler
Author: Zaman Sajid
Author: Worldwatch Institute
Author: Madhu Khanna
Author: Tom James
Author: Sergio Luiz Monteiro Salles-Filho
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Author: Terry Allan Hicks