WORKSHOP ON THE NEXUS OF BIOFUELS ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND HEALTH (Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. Washington, 24 - 25 January 2013)

The Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine is holding a two-day, interactive, public workshop on the intersection of biofuels, climate change and human health. The workshop will focus on air, water, land-use, food, and social impacts of biomass feedstock as an energy resource. Invited speakers will present and discuss the state of the science and health policy implications of using different types (and generations) of biofuels as an energy source.

Liquid fuels are a major part of modern life. They supply energy for ground, water and air transportation, and power for industrial and farming machinery. Use of fossil fuels has had obvious health downsides, such as, emissions of pollutants directly harmful to health, to contributions to global warming through greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, there have been health concerns related to insecurity of liquid fuel supplies, and, arguably, international conflicts caused by fuel scarcity. Further, there are concerns that the supply of fossil fuels is not unlimited and faces increasing demand as societies develop and achieve increased prosperity. All of these concerns have been invoked in the development of new policies that have incentivized the development of renewable sources of energy generally and biofuels specifically.

<b>Presentaciones:</b>

- Bioenergy. Historical Overview and Policy Drivers of Biofuels as a Source of Energy. Timothy Searchinger, Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer in Public and International Affairs.

- Biofuels in the United States: Context and Outlook. Howard Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Administration.

- Biofuels: Past, Present, and Future?. Roger Prince, Senior Research Associate, ExxonMobil.

- Palm Oil as Biofuel : The Case of Malaysia. Jamal Hisham Hashim, Professor of Environmental Health Research Fellow United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health UKM Medical Centre Malaysia.

- Biofuels Energy Occupational Health and Safety. Stephen Reynolds, Director of the High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety Colorado School of Public Health.

- Regional Impacts of Biofuels on Health and Climate Change. Elliott Campbell University of California.

- Biodistillate Fuels and Emissions in the U.S.. Kent Hoekman, Desert Research Institute.

- Water Implications of Biofuel Policy in the U.S.. Jerald Schnoor, Professor of the Allen S. Henry Chair in Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Iowa.

- Water Quality: Corn vs. Switchgrass (and Economics too). Catherine Kling, Professor of Economics Iowa State University.

- Biofuels: Life cycle impacts on land and air. Jason Hill, McKnight Land Grant Professor, Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering University of Minnesota.

- Forest management and forest-based bioenergy. Daniel Cassidy, Senior Advisor, Office of Chief Scientist USDA.

- Biofuels: ethical issues. Alena Buyx, Head of Emmy Noether Group in Bioethics, University of Muenster, and Senior Research Associate, University College London.

- Socioeconomic Impacts of Biofuels in Rural Communities: examples from the United States and Colombia. Theresa Selfa, Associate Professor Environmental Studies Suny ESF.

- Biofuels and Food: Some Pressure Points Considered. Erik Olson, Director of Food Programs Pew Health Group, Pew Charitable Trusts.

- Sustainability and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bernie Goldstein, Roundtable Member.

- The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program. Karl Simon, Director Transportation and Climate Division, US EPA.