Tag Archives: countries
Countries Must ‘Review Biofuel Policies’, Says UN
By Sophie Yeo 21 October, 2013 RTCC The UN has encouraged countries to review their biofuel policies to ensure they do not conflict with food security issues. If biofuels, often seen as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, are to be used responsibly, then they must be developed in line with the “progressive realization of the right to adequate food for all”. These are the conclusions of the Committee on World Food Security, an intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform for food security and nutrition, following a week of intense discussions including over 130 government delegations, 100 civil society and 50 private sector organizations. “Governments and other appropriate stakeholders are encouraged to review biofuels policies – where applicable and if necessary – according to balanced science-based assessments of the opportunities and risks they may present for food security,” the Committee said. Green campaigners have focused on biofuels as a means of reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by fossil fuels, as they mainly consist of crops such as wheat, rapeseed, corn and sugar. But, if they are not developed responsibly, biofuels can become a source of CO2 emissions themselves, as carbon sinks such as forest and peatland are converted into land for food and crops. In September, the EU capped the use of crop-based biofuels used in ground transport at 6%, hoping to ease the competition on land and encourage the development of clean fuels from non-food sources. This week’s meeting also highlighted that the importance of smallholder agriculture must be integrated into national policies, strategies and research. Biofuel development, said the Committee, “should not compromise food security, and should especially consider women and smallholders.” It noted that biofuels development encompassed “both opportunities and risks in economic, social and environmental aspects,” depending on the context and practices. It added: “In some cases, current biofuel production creates competition between biofuel crops and food crops.” © RTCC – Responding to Climate Change 2013. Continue reading
Shaikh Khalifa, GCC leaders exchange greetings on Eid Al Adha
Shaikh Khalifa, GCC leaders exchange greetings on Eid Al Adha (Wam) / 15 October 2013 They exchanged, over the phone, best wishes for the people of their countries as well as all Arab and Muslim nations. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has exchanged greetings with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia; His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; and the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. Shaikh Khalifa and King Abdullah, King Hamad, Shaikh Tamim and Shaikh Sabah exchanged greetings over the phone on Monday. They exchanged best wishes for the peoples of these countries as well as all Arab and Muslim nations. Continue reading
Malaysia Eyes Bigger Slice Of Growing Biomass Pellets Market
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 9 (Bernama) — Malaysia aims to capture a bigger slice of the growing demand for biomass pellets in Asia driven by renewable energy policies in South Korea, Japan and China. Chief Executive Officer of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia, Mark Rozario, said the country has an advantage in terms of logistics and cost of transportation, which were usually dominated by pellet producers from US and Europe. “We want to grab this opportunity and with the establishment of the Pellet Association of Malaysia (PAM) earlier, we have united the manufacturers on issues such as quality, pricing and volumes,” he told reporters after the briefing on the progress of the National Biomass Strategy 2020 here today. Rozario said demand for biomass pellets in Asia by 2020 was estimated to be around 10 million tonnes per year, mainly driven by renewable energy policies in certain countries. “Right now, Malaysia produces about 100,000 tonnes per year and there is room for us to increase our capacity following the plan to collaborate with more plantation owners to supply the feedstocks,” he said. He said Malaysia could produce about five-seven million tonnes per year of pellets in the next five years. Rozario said PAM now has 10 members and five of them had started production of the biomass pellets. He said the agency was ready to attract more players to invest in this industry. Earlier, Malaysia biomass pellet manufacturers inked deals with companies from China and South Korea to supply biomass pellets to help meet their countries’ renewable energy targets. Detik Aturan Sdn Bhd signed the memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s BC21 Co Ltd and Global Green Synergy Sdn Bhd with Chinalight (GuangZhou) Import & Export Corp of China. — BERNAMA Continue reading
