Jorge Bendeck
CEO Federation of Biofuels Colombia
In December 2015, Paris was the scene of a historic summit that marked a before and after in the fight against climate change, taking into account the previous frustrations on agreements, this event has concluded with an international commitment to reduce gas greenhouse as for 2020, including major economical powers such as India, China and the United States, under the leadership of France.
Together with its partners in the European Union, France has played a key role achieving the treaty. Also, due to the important economic development being experienced by Latin America and poverty reduction experienced by this continent by rising per capita income of its population, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) have increased in the region and, therefore, its role during the negotiations had been key.
Four of the countries of Latin America, along with six others in other continents, have been classified as the most vulnerable to global warming, which in a higher frequency will be impacted by violent hurricanes, severe droughts, destruction of natural resources and wildlife, among other natural phenomena’s such as the so called weather conditions “Niña” and “Niño”.
Colombia is one of them!
In fact, the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos has announced an ambitious plan to invest more than $ 2 billion dollars in sustainable development, of which an important part would come from the international community. Moreover, in Colombia there is progress in the transition from an economy based on fossil fuels to renewable energy based on biomass, such as biodiesel and ethanol, bringing the world its significant share to reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), which are causing global warming, with catastrophic consequences.
[hr style=”single”]
“Colombia has pledged to reduce by 20% the emissions of GHG in 2030”
[hr style=”single”]
The objectives of Colombia to combat climate change are ambitious but realistic. It has pledged to reduce by 20% the emissions of GHG in 2030, with actions such as zero lead deforestation which now totals 160 thousand hectares per year, reducing electricity consumption and rationalize water use, optimize efficiency engines, keeping intact the Amazon and, of course, promote the use of biofuels that currently are replacing 8.4% of gasoline and 9.2% diesel consumed in the country.
The International Energy Agency says that biofuels could provide, by 2050, about 27% of the world’s liquid transportation fuels, which would reduce about 2.1 gigatons of CO2 emissions, which would amount to 23% reduction in total transport emissions.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, there is sufficient production of advanced materials and surplus biomass from agriculture with high potential for agribusiness development of biofuels; these are produced in at least 10 countries and begin to have relevance in reducing GHG emissions and generating rural employment, following the lead of Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.
Thanks to the biofuel sector in Colombia have generated 32,000 direct formal jobs and 64 thousand indirect jobs, which is equivalent to saying that 384,000 people derive sustenance of the sector, more than 80% in the field, becoming an instrument against poverty, providing social and economic stability, sowing peace and inclusive development, essential for the post-conflict in Colombia factor.
Additionally, if the country signs the peace process with the guerillas, about one million people that were displaced from their homes, will be motivated to return to their territories which, by their locations are impacted by climate change conditions. This people should come back with the mission to protect the environment creating direct and indirect jobs.
Promote the production and use of biofuels is one of the most suitable mechanisms for countries to meet their environmental commitments in the short term and, for Latin America, starting with Colombia, represents an instrument of rural development, fighting poverty energy independence and strengthening food security for their people.
