Biofuels supporters react to climate change assessment
May 06, 2014 | 11:59 PM
Pro-biofuels groups today praised the National Climate Assessment, but said it proves that the Obama administration’s proposals to cut biofuels requirements are wrong.
“The National Climate Assessment only confirms what family farmers and ranchers have been experiencing: global climate change is increasing the occurrence and severity of volatile weather events, which then directly impact agricultural risk, farmers' bottom lines and the entire rural economy,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson.
“The assessment showed that Congress must take action to mitigate climate change,” Johnson added.
“I also encourage the administration to heed its own advice by rejecting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s misguided proposal to reduce the biofuel production targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Johnson.
“The RFS is currently our country’s most important strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The EPA’s proposal will not only adversely impact commodity prices and rural employment, but will also move our country further from achieving our climate change mitigation goals.”
The Biotechnology Industry Organization also said that decreasing the use of biofuels, as EPA has proposed, will increase the use of more carbon intensive petroleum sources, said BIO.
“The National Climate Assessment only confirms what family farmers and ranchers have been experiencing: global climate change is increasing the occurrence and severity of volatile weather events, which then directly impact agricultural risk, farmers' bottom lines and the entire rural economy,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson.
“The assessment showed that Congress must take action to mitigate climate change,” Johnson added.
“I also encourage the administration to heed its own advice by rejecting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s misguided proposal to reduce the biofuel production targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Johnson.
“The RFS is currently our country’s most important strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The EPA’s proposal will not only adversely impact commodity prices and rural employment, but will also move our country further from achieving our climate change mitigation goals.”
The Biotechnology Industry Organization also said that decreasing the use of biofuels, as EPA has proposed, will increase the use of more carbon intensive petroleum sources, said BIO.
