Biofuels - At What Cost?
Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States: 2007 Update
REPORT EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:30 AM EDT, OCTOBER 23, 2007
Launch Event
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Where? The German Marshall Fund of the United States 1700 18 Street, NW; Washington, D.C. 20009
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When? 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m.
RSVP: Please contact Ulrike Leis at (202) 745 6667 or at [email protected]. "Biofuels: At What Cost? Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States – 2007 Update" is available under embargo upon request. Please contact: Javed Ahmad at [email protected].
A launch event, hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, will see the release of the latest report in this series, the study on U.S. government support for biofuels in the U.S.: "Biofuels: At What Cost? Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States – 2007 Update." This report, which updates the GSI's report issued last October, details the extent of the current government support to biofuels in the United States, and analyzes the impact of forthcoming legislation, namely the Energy and Farm Bills.
Background
Biofuels production and consumption has surged dramatically over a short period of time – globally, production of both ethanol and biodiesel has grown at double-digit rates in each of the last four years. A host of emerging concerns have arisen as a result, including impacts on food supplies, the environment, and economies.
While increasing attention has been paid to the potentially negative consequences resulting from the biofuels boom, there has been relatively little focus on the forces driving the expansion. It is critical to understand that the rapid growth of the biofuels industry has not been solely in response to market forces; rather, government policies, such as subsidies and mandated use of biofuels, have been the key driving factors. A series of reports by the Global Subsidies Initiative, a division of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, reveal the scale and shape of that government support in the United States, the European Union, and other selected OECD countries.
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a globally recognized think tank with 3 decades of experience working to solve the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. We combine deep expertise in a wide range of issues with a collaborative approach to research, policy advice, and hands-on support to ensure these solutions are brought to life. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we are a diverse team of over 300 professionals working from offices in Canada, Switzerland, and other locations around the world.
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