The Other Side of Climate Action: Challenges Facing Africa In recent years, the international community has pursued decarbonization through various means to address climate change. Among these, biofuels have garnered attention as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Global organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), have set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping industry by utilizing this technology. The shipping sector accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the IMO has set a target to achieve carbon neutrality in shipping by 2050. However, a critical issue being overlooked in this process is the severe side effects that the expansion of biofuels could entail. The African continent, in particular, faces significant threats to food security and land rights due to the growth of the biofuel industry. Africa is already a region grappling with severe challenges stemming from economic inequality and climate change. Since 2000, there has been a surge in large-scale land deals across Africa for industrial agriculture, carbon credit acquisition, mining development, and biofuel cultivation. According to a commentary by Susan Chomba and Million Belay published in Mongabay, these transactions have led to an increasing number of residents losing access to land, thereby threatening food security. Chomba and Belay warn that "the shipping sector's biofuel gamble could exacerbate land pressure and food insecurity in Africa," pointing out that the international community, in its singular focus on solving climate change, is overlooking the sacrifices that marginalized communities in Africa are forced to bear. Indeed, millions of hectares of agricultural land across the African continent are being converted for biofuel crop cultivation, significantly reducing the space available for traditional food crops. Crops such as corn, sugarcane, and palm oil are primarily used for biofuel production, creating a direct competition with food crop cultivation areas. This phenomenon places an even greater burden on local communities already suffering from food insecurity. Chomba emphasizes that "climate action should not proceed in a distorted form that exacerbates local resource exploitation issues," warning that the expansion of biofuels could lead to new forms of land dispossession. Furthermore, while it cannot be denied that biofuel use contributes to some extent to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this could be a one-sided solution focused solely on reducing carbon dioxide. The environmental impacts arising from grain-based biofuel production processes also cannot be ignored. Large-scale monoculture farming degrades soil quality, reduces biodiversity, and leads to water depletion. Especially in regions like Africa, where ecosystems are vulnerable and agriculture is the primary livelihood, such environmental destruction directly threatens the survival basis of local communities. Million Belay, researching this issue at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, criticized that "while the biofuel industry relies on local resources, its adverse effects are concentrated in the poorest regions." The excessive expansion of the biofuel industry is increasingly deviating from the initial ideals of climate change response. These shifts are clearly evident through discussions at International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings. While the IMO has proposed the expansion of biofuels as one of the main solutions to achieve carbon neutrality in the shipping sector, many African governments have expressed strong opposition, citing concerns that grain-based biofuels could trigger food security crises within their countries. African national representatives officially urged the exclusion of grain-based biofuels from decarbonization solutions for the shipping sector at IMO meetings. Instead, they proposed next-generation sustainable energies such as wind, solar, and hydrogen as alternatives, demanding a reduction in reliance on biofuels and the pursuit of a more comprehensive energy transition strategy. Complex Problems Caused by Biofuels Such global discussions offer significant implications for South Korea. Domestically, decarbonization is progressing, centered on the expansion of electric and hydrogen vehicles and large-scale renewable energy projects. However, it is crucial to carefully consider how to maintain a balance between food security and energy transition during this process. South Korea, in particular, is a country with a very high reliance on grain imports, with a grain self-sufficiency rate of only about 20%. If grains are diverted globally for biofuel production, international grain prices will rise, directly impacting domestic consumer prices. During the 2007-2008 food crisis, increased demand for biofuels was identified as one of the primary causes of soaring grain prices. Therefore, it is
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