Biofuel production remains highly controversial. First, biofuel production, such as oil palm, stimulates rural development, but is also said to cause widespread environmental degradation and compete with food production land. Related to climate change, supporters of biofuels say that biofuel are an alternative low carbon fuel. However, opponents state that most biofuel production replaces forests, thereby increasing CO2 emissions. This course will introduce participants to these multiple dimensions of biofuels from an interdisciplinary perspective, focussing on countries in Africa and Asia. Students will gain the interdisciplinary perspective on biofuels from conservationists, NGOs, the private sector and the academic world.

Period
07-07-2014 - 18-07-2014 (2 weeks)

Target group
The course is useful for Masters' students, academics and practitioners from anywhere in the world who are interested in or work in the field of biofuel production, natural resource management, conflict studies etc.

Course aim
At the end of this course the participants will have a thorough knowledge of the current problems, academic and policy debates related to biofuels in general, and oil palm in particular and its effects on sustainable development. In addition however, we also seek for possible answers and solutions to enable a more sustainable development in which biofuels play a part. The guiding question is how to optimize the link between biofuel production, sustainable development including climate change and poverty alleviation in producing areas in the South.



Credits
3.0 ECTS credits

Course fee
EUR 895[Convert to USD] 895 - Course + course materials + housing 560 - Course + course materials

Course leader
Femke van Noorloos

Utrecht University
Address: PO BOX 80148
Postal code: 3508 TC
City: Utrecht
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://www.utrechtsummerschool.nl
E-mail: summerschool@uu.nl
Phone: 0031302534400