|
Biofuels feature prominently in Southern African debates on Sustainable Energy Production |
While Biofuels are considered a viable alternative source of energy to some, prominent criticisms of the Biofuels industry suggest that Biofuels contribute to rising global food prices and accelerate global warming through deforestation as recently highlighted at the UN Food Summit in Rome. With poverty eradication being a huge global challenge at present, these concerns are indeed justified. However, relevant stakeholders need to engage these issues and establish sustainable solutions namely, to support biofuels energy production that is sustainable and which helps to alleviate poverty, rather than exacerbating it by increasing food prices.
Recent and forthcoming events listed below provide a platform for relevant stakeholders to discuss ways in which to grow the Biofuels Industry in Southern Africa without threatening sustainability.
- The CURES Capacity Building Workshop & Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels Regional Consultation which was held between the 8th and 12th of September 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique. See http://cures.org.za for feedback on this event.
- Protecting the future of Biofuels industry in Southern Africa Conference held between 17th and 19th September 2008 at VodaWorld in Midrand, South Africa
- Biofuels Markets Africa- The Pan-African Meeting Place for the Biofuels Industry to be held on the 20th and 21st of November 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa.
In addition, see commentary by Glynn Morris of REEEP Southern Africa Regional Secretariat on strong land use policy and biofuels in South Africa here .
|
|
|