Documentary

Green Gold

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Sergio Ghizzardi

At a time when the oil price is at its lowest and when we are desperately trying to reduce CO2 emissions, «Green gold» tells the story of biofuels: a political project about industry, energy and the environment.
In the early 2000s, biofuels made from agricultural produce appeared to be the ideal solution, driven by industrial and agricultural lobbies. Politicians turned biofuels into one of their main weapons to decarbonise transport. However, biofuels quickly showed their limitations in terms of environmental efficiency (causing deforestation, ...) and economic efficiency (soaring agricultural prices, highly dependent on fluctuations in raw materials,…). NGOs on one side and the oil sector on the other cross swords over this emerging industry.
Today, a second generation of biofuels has emerged, based on waste from forests, straw and oil Yet the results are clear. There is still some doubts: Are they sustainable? The second-generation touches on a more lucrative sector: Biochemistry.
The hope of finding a solution to decarbonise transport may still exist but it appears to have been crushed by economic tensions provoked by all the different stakeholders. We are only at the beginning of a transition era.

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