21 November 2008: Speaking at the closing of the International Conference on Biofuels, which convened from 17-21 November 2008, in São Paolo, Brazil, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on industrialized countries to invest in the production of biofuels in impoverished countries that have available land, such as African countries.

While noting that biofuels are not a panacea for all the environmental
and economic problems, he said that “biofuels can become an instrument
to change people’s lives, capable of reducing poverty and social
differences, and to generate income, mainly in countries currently
under development.” The Conference, which was convened under the theme
“Biofuels as a Driving Force of Sustainable Development,” aimed at
encouraging international discussion about the challenges and
opportunities of biofuels and related issues, such as energy security,
climate change, sustainability of the production and use, innovation,
and agricultural and industrial processing.
The event was attended by
participants from 92 countries as well as numerous non-governmental and
private sector organizations. While no formal declaration was adopted,
the summaries of Conference’s plenary sessions suggest that
participants broadly supported a number of statements, including: a 10%
share of biofuels in transport worldwide is feasible; biofuels can
significantly contribute to combating climate change; the current food,
energy and financial crises provide an opportunity to revise standards
of production and consumption, and boost the development of renewable
and sustainable energy sources; biofuels can be a driver of rural
development; innovation and technology development in all aspects of
biofuel production and use will increase efficiency in biomass
conversion; and a number of measures are necessary to create global
market for biofuels, including their classification as environmental
commodities under the World Trade Organization and the reduction of
tariffs and other trade barriers. [Summary of President Lula’s Speech] [Summaries of Plenary Sessions]