The Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund

Biofuels:  Which are More Sustainable?

Date: November 19^th-20^th, 2008

© Timothy GEER / WWF-Canon

Overview
As climate change and energy issues are playing a more expansive role in decision-making, Biofuels will be increasingly viewed as a possible solution to the problems of fossil fuels. Biofuels have been hailed as a key solution to rising monetary and environmental costs of fossil fuels. However, it is now clear that Biofuels have emerged as a potential threat to environmental quality as well as to socio-economic conditions worldwide. 

The cultivation, transport, and use of Biofuels raise fundamental questions with regard to impacts on biodiversity, the environment, greenhouse gas emissions, food supply, social well-being, and prosperity. For example, despite its relatively low production costs and high efficiency, sugarcane ethanol presents threats of air pollution from burning for harvesting, degradation of soil and water systems, and deforestation due to land use change. The 2008 Science for Nature Symposium will address and answer these questions, as well as provide an opportunity for this dialogue to directly inform the research of scientists, the work of conservation practitioners, and the role of industry and government:

• Which Biofuels best reduce CO₂ emissions?
• Do the current U.S. and foreign policies lead to more sustainable Biofuel production / use?
• Which species and habitats are most likely to be threatened by Biofuel expansion?
• How much new land is brought into Biofuel production and where does this occur?
• What would a sustainable Biofuel look like?
• What effects do agrichemicals used to cultivate Biofuels have on the environment?
• Are we sacrificing food for fuel?
• Do Biofuels alleviate or exacerbate poverty? 

2008 Symposium Logistics
For hotel information, map and directions, and other information regarding the 2008 Science for Nature Symposium please click here.

Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Symposium
Experts from around the world will gather to share and discuss their research. Internationally-renowned scientists will inform policy-makers, who in turn will provide scientists with the questions needed to establish science-based policy. We will ask speakers not only to explain their recent research results, but also to address the following questions:

• What do we currently know about your topic?
• What is still unknown or unknowable about this topic?
• What science is most needed at this juncture?

The 2008 Science for Nature Symposium will help the conservation community to assess the threats associated with Biofuels, determine what is currently known (and unknown) about these threats, and formulate an understanding of the science-based policy solutions.

© Michel GUNTHER / WWF-Canon

The Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Symposium convenes world leaders in science, policy, and conservation for presentations and discussions around emerging scientific issues in conservation. Over the past two years, WWF hosted two symposia on ecosystem services and on the science behind Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Both of our past symposiums have featured some of the most prominent thinkers, politicians, and conservationists in their fields to help bring the political, scientific, and conservation communities up to speed on a topic and provide marching orders for future work and decision making.