New Report Shows Developing Biotechnology Will Significantly Reduce CO2 Emissions

New peer-reviewed research shows that increased use of biotechnology could reduce carbon emissions by 1 to 2.5 billion tons per year by 2030.

According to the United Nations, this is the equivalent of 8% of total world carbon dioxide emission in 2006, or 60% of the European Union's total emissions.  Biotechnology includes biofuels, advanced waste management systems, and bio-based technology used to produce detergents, and textiles.

The research also explains that the potential of biotechnology hinges on political backing.  Government supported Initiatives such as charging pollution costs to petrol-based material, and investing in advanced waste management technologies are examples of public policies that need to be in place to help realize the vast promis industrial biotechnology offers.

As Steen Riisgaard, CEO of the bio-manufacturing company Novozymes, says, "in a few years sugar will be the new oil.  Already today close to 200 biorefineries are operating in the US and yet we have only seen the beginning."

Read the full story at Biofuels Digest:  World Wildlife Fund says industrial biotech can produce massive reduction in global CO2; says biofuels could reduce CO2 by 1 billion tons