Biofuels are manufactured from agricultural products like corn, soybeans, flaxseed, rapeseed, and the waste from industry, agriculture, and forest. Domestic waste like the straw, lumber, manure, sewage, garbage and leftover food also contribute in the preparation of biofuels. The most common form of biofuels is bioethanol, a substitute for petrol, which is derived from cereal-based crops like wheat, maize, soya and sugarcane. Biodiesel a substitute for diesel is derived from oilseed-based crops like oilseed and palm. As these fuels are derived from raw materials that are normally used in food production, they are considered as first generation biofuels, whereas biogas, a biofuel substitute for natural gas, is derived from organic waste materials like animal waste and waste generated from municipality, commercial and industrial sources (considered as second generation fuel). Thus, plants are the most common sources for production of biofuels globally.

Presently, this industry is expanding rapidly in developed as well as developing nations. The biofuels manufactured from plants are being used on a large scale as substitute for fossil fuels by the automotive and transport industry.As the carbon in biofuels is extracted from atmospheric carbon dioxide from growing plants, burning it does not result in the increase of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. Hence, there is a huge demand for this renewable fuel for its reduced levels of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

However, there are certain key social and environmental issues concerning production of these biofuels, which have become the cause of concern across the globe. The major controversy is around increased food prices, and shortage of food. Consequently, though biofuels are considered to be eco-friendly, they are accused of snatching food from millions of poor. The environmentalists allege that if this trend continues, there is the likelihood of rising temperature and shifting rainfall patterns, which will further worsen the problem of water scarcity. In addition to these, the increasing demand on the world's land and water resources and forests may result in emissions that are higher than those caused by fossil fuels and deforestation. Many of these biofuel crops require the best and large-scale farming, plenty of water and fertilizers. In consequence, many of the small-scale or individual farmers would be forced or pushed off their land by large-scale corporates or private industrial and agriculture giants.

In the absence of proper legal guidelines and legislations, there is rampant production and import of both good and bad biofuels by many countries. Even in UK, there is no assessment of biofuel performance, and it is feared that both good and bad biofuels are currently being imported and sold. Heading the race are the US, Brazil, Canada, and even developing countries like Indonesia, and India, which are readily transforming corn, wheat, soy beans and sugarcane into cleaner-burning fuel. However, a number of NGOs working for green environment are campaigning for mandatory sustainability and GHG balance standards. In this regard the UK Government has committed to introduce the `Renewable Transport Fuel (RTFO) Obligation', which requires reporting of biofuel sources. In India too the government has constituted committees on development of biofuels and on environmental effects pertaining to use of biofuels.

Conversely, the industrial biofuel policy or legislations alone cannot be a solution to the climatic crisis or an answer to the rise in the cost of food or oil. The infrastructure, which is dependent on automobiles and power generation, needs to be adapted to the limits of the planet. The planet should not be further destroyed and the people should not be burdened to uphold a non-sustainable system for a few more years. Hence, the livelihoods, food and energy security of the rural poor and the agriculture policy must be planned in such a way that it shifts from chemical, industrial and corporate based farming to a biodiversity ecological farming.

This issue provides perspectives on various environment-related issues of the world. In addition to the book review, global executive summaries, bookshelf, and case studies, it includes valuable views expressed by the renowned authors in their articles.

Vaibhav Goel, Akshay Garg and Akansha Garg in the paper "Biotechnology and Aquaculture Industry in India: A Sustainable Approach" highlight the need for sustainable development of aquaculture while protecting marine ecology through effective planning and use of biotechnology.

Rebecca Bratspies in the paper "Rethinking Decision Making in International Environmental Law: A Process-Oriented Inquiry into Sustainable Development" explores the relationship between new Haven School ideas of authoritative decision and the environmental challenges, and identifies that the authoritative decision is to be modified to suit globalization.

Jamison E Colburn in the paper "Solidarity and Subsidiarity in a Changing Climate: Green Building as Legal and Moral Obligation" explores the developing trend towards green building in the US.

- L Lakshmi
Consulting Editor