Biofuels: Hope Or Hype? - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica critically examines the role of biofuels—plant-based fuels used as substitutes for gasoline and diesel—in the global energy landscape, particularly in the context of discussions at COP30 in Brazil. While biofuels have been promoted as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, especially with mandates like the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 requiring ethanol blending, the article highlights significant environmental and resource drawbacks. The production of biofuels consumes vast amounts of cropland, leading to deforestation and grassland conversion, which paradoxically increases carbon dioxide emissions rather than reducing them. A 2025 study by Transport and Environment (T&E) found that biofuels generate 16% more CO₂ pollution than the fossil fuels they replace, and the land used for biofuel crops could instead feed 1.2 billion people or be used for solar energy production with far greater efficiency. The article underscores that biofuels are a poor climate solution due to their high land,