U.N.: Some biofuels better than others

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A more sophisticated approach to developing biofuels as an energy option is needed to ensure that it benefits society, a United Nations report contends.

The report, issued Friday by the U.N. Environment Program's International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, said while some biofuels, such as ethanol from sugar cane, can have positive impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, the way in which they are produced can make all the difference in determining whether they are leading to more or fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

"Biofuels are neither a panacea nor a pariah but like all technologies they represent both opportunities and challenges," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. "Therefore, a more sophisticated debate is urgently needed, which is what this first report by the Panel is intended to provide.

Steiner while some biofuels "clearly are climate friendly," others are "highly questionable." The report, he said, "makes it clear that biofuels have a future role, but also underlines that there may be other options for combating climate change, improving rural livelihoods and achieving sustainable development that may, or may not, involve turning ever more crops and crop wastes into liquid fuels."