The Indonesian government’s plan to clear an area of rainforest the size of Belgium for sugarcane-based bioethanol and food crops has sparked fierce backlash from Indigenous communities and environmental groups. The project, billed as a solution to food insecurity and renewable energy needs, threatens to accelerate deforestation in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
As Indonesia prepares to clear 3.2 million hectares of rainforest for bioethanol production, new data reveals a troubling paradox: the plan could release more carbon in 5 years than the bioethanol would save in 50. For policymakers weighing food security against…