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At the global climate change summit in Copenhagen, Brazilian leaders staunchly defended the nation’s ethanol program, and pushed bio fuels as the most logical alternative energy source for a world trying to wean itself off of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels. Since the introduction of its ethanol program some 30 years ago, Brazil has managed to avoid what is estimated to be 800 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Delegates also stressed the potential economic benefits of ethanol production, pointing to the country’s scheme to promote micro-distilleries as a source of secondary income for families.
Critics of ethanol production, however, say that the distilleries eat into farmlands intended for food production, and blame them for the 2008 rise in food prices. Some environmentalists also point to bio fuel production as one of the main reasons for the steady deforestation of the Amazon.
The delegates answered the critics, admitting that cattle raising and other agricultural practices can be done more efficiently in Brazil. However, they were adamant that ethanol production is not to blame. Brazilian minister Jose Migues also defended the industries effect on the deforestation of the Amazon, stating “We were told that bio fuels lead to deforestation in the Amazon, but the ethanol production areas are 3,000 km away from the Amazon.’’
And even though the European Union backed out of a commitment to introduce a 10% use of bio fuels in transportation by 2020 last year, Brazilian Authorities continue to stress that bio fuels are the most sensible answer, for the time being at least, for a world struggling to move forward without fossil fuels.

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