Land Clearing and the Biofuel Carbon Debt
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Material Information

Title:
Land Clearing and the Biofuel Carbon Debt
Series Title:
Science Magazine
Creator:
Joseph Fargione
Jason Hill
David Tilman
Stephen Polasky
Affiliation:
The Nature Conservancy
University of Minnesota -- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
University of Minnesota -- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
University of Minnesota -- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Notes

Abstract:
Increasing energy use, climate change, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels make switching to low-carbon fuels a high priority. Biofuels are a potential lowcarbon energy source, but whether biofuels offer carbon savings depends on how they are produced. Converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas, or grasslands to produce foodbased biofuels in Brazil, SoutheastAsia, and the United States creates a ‘biofuel carbon debt’ by releasing 17 to 420 times more CO2 than the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions these biofuels provide by displacing fossil fuels. In contrast, biofuels made from waste biomass or from biomass grown on abandoned agricultural lands planted with perennials incur little or no carbon debt and offer immediate and sustainedGHG advantages.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
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