Photo: Clearing Land for Biofuels Makes Global Warming Worse

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Farmers convert a native prairie in central South Dakota to arable land in this undated photo.

Biofuels such as corn ethanol typically start out with a "carbon debt": the gas released into the atmosphere while preparing the land for crops.

This release of greenhouse gases may ultimately make biofuels worse for the environment, a new study says.

Photograph courtesy Boyd Schulz

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy

MOST VIEWED NEWS

Earth's Core, Magnetic Field Changing Fast, Study Says

Even Modest Increases in MPG Can Equal Big Gas Savings

Amazon Tribe Attacked by Masked Gunners
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample
Download Widget