The Law of Unintended Consequences

The Law of Unintended Consequences is a term that is used, often ironically, to describe the unexpected impact of changes we make to a system. The actions taken to solve one problem may inadvertently create new problems or exacerbate existing ones. For example, the management of a factory may decide to increase production rates to levels. In doing so some critical equipment items may fail, so production is less than what it would have been.

In the context of climate change, the following are examples of this ‘Law’.

Biofuels

Many countries and companies have promoted the production and use of biofuels. Examples are ethanol from corn and biodiesel from soybeans. These biofuels can be added to gasoline, and they are used to make Sustainable Aviation Fuels. However, the large-scale cultivation of biofuel crops has led to deforestation, habitat loss, and increased competition for land and water resources. Also, the carbon emissions associated with land-use change and the energy-intensive processes of producing biofuels can outweigh the emissions reductions achieved.