ELTI-NUS Biofuels Conference
12-13 May 2009
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Biofuels: The Impact of Oil Palm on Forests and Climate
The Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative (ELTI), a joint program of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the Center for Tropical Forest Science of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Biological Sciences would like to invite you to attend a conference exploring the environmental costs and benefits of using oil palm as a biofuel feedstock.
The Conference will consist of four panels, each revolving around one of the following questions:
1. To what extent have tropical forests been converted or will be converted to expand oil palm production for biofuels?
2. What factors determine the extent to which greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by using oil palm-derived biodiesel? How do biofuels compare to ‘Avoided Deforestation’ or REDD?
3. What is the potential for second-generation biofuel feedstocks, such as jatropha and algae, to reduce negative environmental impacts associated with oil palm?
4. What are the prospects for certification schemes to reduce the environmental impacts of oil palm cultivation for biofuels?
The conference will conclude with a final roundtable discussion exploring what additional steps can be taken to minimize the environmental impact of the biofuels industry in the region.
For additional information and registration, please visit here. The conference is free of charge, but registration is required and seating is limited.
