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The document describes a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development that quantifies financial support for ethanol and biodiesel across European Union Member States since 2007. It argues that documenting the full extent of these subsidies is essential for an informed public debate regarding the cost-effectiveness and impacts of biofuel policies.

The author advocates for a shift away from oil in the United States by implementing carbon or petroleum taxes to reduce demand and replacing petroleum-based fuels and materials with sustainable alternatives. The text highlights the potential for biofuels in transportation and heating, as well as the use of biomass for industrial chemicals and building products, emphasizing that such a transition must be grounded in sustainability to protect ecosystems.

The document examines Brazil's trajectory of energy subsidization from the 1930s to 2010, highlighting a cycle of industrial promotion, unsustainable financial deficits in the 1980s, and a partially successful liberalization process in the 1990s. It argues that subsidies distort price signals, discourage efficiency, and create entrenched political interests that make reform fragile and difficult, particularly when energy crises occur in related sectors.

The document defines key terms in the biofuels sector, highlighting the dominance of corn ethanol in the US and sugar cane in Brazil. It details specific US financial mechanisms, such as the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which provides a $0.45 cents/gallon credit to oil companies and costs over $5 billion annually, and the 'blend wall' currently set at 10 percent ethanol in gasoline.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that current U.S. biofuels tax credits, particularly the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), are ineffective because they primarily benefit oil companies and fail to stimulate additional production beyond the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The document proposes a Biofuels Performance Tax Credit of $10 per million Btu, which would reward producers based on their ability to reduce global warming emissions and replace oil. This proposed shift could save $5 billion annually starting in 2011 and reduce global warming emissions by up to 50 million metric tons per year by 2022.

The report documents that commuters in cars, buses, trains, and ferries are routinely exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust, with ultrafine particles (UFPs) serving as the most sensitive marker of fresh diesel emissions. Findings indicate that diesel soot dominates roadway particulate matter and that in-vehicle exposures are significantly higher than ambient outdoor air, particularly in 'pull' trains and highway tunnels. The study concludes that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are highly effective at eliminating the soot plume behind vehicles, significantly improving air quality for following commuters and pedestrians.

Friends of the Earth criticizes the US Congress for attempting to retroactively reauthorize tax credits for fossil fuels and bioenergy that expired in 2009, asserting that such subsidies incur high economic and environmental costs and contradict President Obama's goals.

The analysis examines the sustainability of biofuel production in Malaysia, specifically comparing national goals for biodiesel investment with the risks posed to local livelihoods and the environment. While palm oil plantations may offer socio-economic benefits, the study warns that expansion could jeopardize the self-sufficiency of local communities in meeting basic needs.

The report examines the Tanzanian mining sector, noting that while it contributes modestly to GDP (2.3%), it accounts for approximately 45% of foreign earnings. It highlights a significant gap between public perceptions of mining profitability and the operational realities of the industry. A case study of Barrick Gold reveals varying levels of social legitimacy across its mines, with the North Mara mine facing severe challenges including criminal activity and community mistrust, while the Buzwagi mine was designed to follow global best practices. The report recommends greater fiscal transparency through EITI compliance and the creation of a national mining forum.

The report argues that India's push for jatropha to meet biodiesel targets has led to the forced displacement of tribal and lower-caste communities from their traditional lands. While promoted as a pro-poor, non-food crop for 'waste land', the report finds that jatropha often displaces food crops and common resources, fails to thrive due to poor understanding of growing conditions, and is unlikely to be commercially viable as a monoculture.

The policy brief examines how Brazil's success in bioethanol production can be leveraged through the IBSA Forum to support biofuel development in South Africa and Africa. It identifies key barriers in South Africa, including a lack of a coherent national strategy and concerns over food security and land reform. The authors recommend that South Africa develop a balanced biofuel strategy, pursue collaborative R&D on second-generation biofuels, and create specific investment incentives to attract Brazilian expertise and capital.

The document analyzes the Brazilian freight transportation sector, which is heavily reliant on road transport. It evaluates the National Plan for Logistics and Transport (PNLT), estimating that an 'ideal' modal shift toward rail and waterways by 2025 could reduce GHG emissions by over 40% compared to a business-as-usual scenario. However, the study identifies significant barriers, including a complex dual-taxation system on multimodal transport, a deeply embedded 'road culture' supported by a strong truck manufacturing industry, and regulatory inconsistencies between transport agencies. It proposes a set of input, process, output, and outcome indicators to monitor the plan's progress and the resulting energy efficiency and emission reductions.

The document outlines the job creation potential of the clean energy economy, citing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) industries created over nine million jobs in the U.S. in 2007. It provides specific employment projections for various technologies, including wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal, across U.S. states and international markets such as Germany, Brazil, and India. The text also compares these figures to employment trends in the fossil fuel and nuclear sectors and details U.S. legislative efforts, such as the Green Jobs Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to support workforce training and clean energy deployment.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) proposes a cap-and-trade system to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% by 2050. While power plants and fossil fuel producers are capped, bioenergy from renewable biomass is exempt, and agriculture and forestry sectors can generate carbon offsets. The bill introduces a combined Efficiency and Renewable Electricity Standard requiring 20% renewable energy by 2021, expands the definition of renewable biomass for the Renewable Fuels Standard, and authorizes funding for woodstove replacements, the National Bioenergy Partnership, and strategic tree-planting.

The report challenges the promotion of jatropha as a 'wonder crop' for biofuels, using evidence from Swaziland to argue that it may compete with food production, require significant water and chemical inputs, and offer marginal economic benefits to small-scale farmers. It highlights concerns over unfair contracting practices by D1 Oils and the lack of environmental risk assessments, concluding that jatropha is not a sustainable 'silver bullet' for meeting EU and UK biofuel targets.

The report assesses government support for liquid biofuels in Canada, finding that total transfers between 2006 and 2008 ranged from C$860 million to C$1.02 billion. It argues that these subsidies are an expensive way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve fossil fuels, often providing poor value for money compared to purchasing carbon offsets. While Canada has implemented some effective targeting and caps to limit costs, the report highlights poor transparency, a lack of rigorous environmental evaluation, and the potential for future infrastructure costs driven by blending mandates.

The report argues that EU consumption and trade policies drive the expansion of monoculture tree plantations in the Global South, which disproportionately harms women by destroying their livelihoods, health, and cultural identities. Through case studies in Nigeria (rubber), Papua New Guinea (oil palm), and Brazil (eucalyptus), the document details the loss of food sovereignty, the erosion of traditional medicinal knowledge, and the increase in gender-based violence and economic dependency. It highlights that while these projects are often framed as 'development,' they frequently result in land theft and environmental degradation. The report concludes by documenting the emergence of women-led resistance movements fighting for land return and food sovereignty.

The document outlines the growth of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the U.S., specifically focusing on the transition from produce-only shares to meat and egg 'buying clubs'. It highlights how these models support small-to-midsize farms through upfront community investment and risk-sharing. The text advocates for pasture-based livestock systems over confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), noting improvements in animal health and environmental impact. It also details the specific logistical challenges of meat CSAs, such as perishability and access to slaughter facilities, while providing case studies from Ohio, New York, and California.

The report examines the intersection of biomass, livelihoods, and international trade, focusing on the trade axis between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the growth of North-South trade in bioenergy, particularly liquid biofuels like bio-ethanol and biodiesel, driven by EU commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transport. The document weighs the potential for economic growth and livelihood creation against risks of environmental degradation and economic exploitation, ultimately offering recommendations for future research, policy, and capacity building rather than definitive conclusions.

The document assesses Ghana's progress in renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE), highlighting a government target of 10% RE in the energy mix by 2020. It identifies significant barriers, including the lack of a comprehensive legal framework, high upfront capital costs, and a pricing system that ignores environmental externalities. The author argues that international cooperation—through capacity building, credit support facilities, and the Clean Development Mechanism—is essential to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and improve rural electrification.