Greenhouse gases are gases in our atmosphere that trap heat from the sun. They form a blanket that works like a greenhouse, which leads to global warming. An increase in these kinds of gases amplifies the greenhouse effect, which ultimately leads to a different climate. The average temperature on Earth is slowly rising. The weather is getting more extreme. Drought is increasing, and when it rains more precipitation falls in a short time.
Global climate policy is aimed at limiting the increase in the average temperature on earth to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius. In order to achieve this, the emission of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, must be reduced and we must drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels. The use of fossil fuels contributes to increasing the greenhouse effect.
Fossil fuels are the remains of animals and plants. The carbon was stored in the earth millions of years ago. When using fossil fuels in the form of, for example, petroleum, natural gas or coal, the CO2 that has been stored in the earth during these millions of years is released. This is also known as long term cycle CO2. If we stop burning carbon captured over millions of years, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A good alternative to fossil fuels is the use of plants. Rapeseed, sunflower and soybean and tropical crops such as the oil palm and coconut palm are examples of plants and trees whose seeds and fruits can provide us with vegetable oil in an efficient way. The crops absorb CO2 from the air during growth. Because the time between the emission of CO2 and its absorption by plants is very short, this is also called short-cycle CO2. Short-cycle carbon does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
An additional advantage of using vegetable oil is that oil crops are also a supplier of proteins. The flour of oilseed beans and seeds contains proteins that are suitable as animal feed. In fact, about 80% of the soybean is processed into flour and about 20% into oil. For rapeseed, the ratio is 60% flour and 40% oil.
This makes vegetable oils very suitable as a raw material for biofuel. The European Union has decided that road traffic in Europe must use at least 10% renewable energy. By 2030, that share should have increased to 14%. Currently, biodiesel is mixed with fossil diesel. By gradually using more fuel from plant material in the coming years, we are working to combat climate change.
Frank Bergmans, policy officer sustainable development MVO
