climate change

Picked up a booklet about climate change and deforestation by the Prince's Charities actually the Prince's Rainforest Project. It's a really fascinating an insightful read for example 15 million hectares of tropical forest are lost a year to deforestation thats about the size of England. It's not just a book of facts though.
It can be noted that the book tends to lay into Brazil a lot. However it does make up over half of the Amazon rainforest and is a main culprit in deforestation. Yet it is one of the poorest countries in the world therefore, the economic gains outstrip the ethical ones regarding climate change. A Brazilian farmer can make $3000 per hectare by changing it to the production of soybean.

However, what usually gets over looked is Brazil's climate change work. Brazil is considered the worlds leading bio fuel industry and the first country in the world to have a sustainable bio fuel economy. Brazil's renewable saviour for the planet is ethanol. It is used to power machinery and more often and importantly vehicles. It is used across the world but mainly in Brazil and the USA.
The ethanol is produced from sugar cane of which Brazil has over 500 varieties. It can then be used as fuel. This has been happening in Brazil since the 1920's. Last year Brazil produced 24.5 billion litres of ethanol fuel.
Although obviously this process can only take place in certain climates where sugar production can take place it is a step to reducing climate change. With Brazil the biggest exporter of ethanol, Europe should take a look at converting its vehicles to be able to use it. If not fully then 50/50 which has already worked in Brazil.

Deforestation which this was initially about affects climate change and takes place mainly in Brazil yet at least they are doing something about it opposed to sitting back like Europe and setting targets which no nations attempt to meet. Hopefully something productive and constructive can come from the Copenhagen conference.