Publication

Accounting for indirect land-use changes in GHG balances of biofuels: Review of current approaches

Edgard Gnansounou, Arnaud Dauriat
2008
Reports

Abstract

Increased demand for biofuels is expected to produce changes in the present land-use configuration. Furthermore there is a growing concern about the effect of land-use change on biodiversity, food supply, soil and water quality. Biofuels production on current land and use of biomass in a given region can induce displacement of activities and land-use changes elsewhere. This effect is known as indirect land-use change (ILUC). Due to changes in the carbon stock of the soil and the biomass, indirect land-use change has consequences in the GHG balance of a biofuel.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/e26147cb-04a0-47bd-90b4-bd6938257900

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Edgard Gnansounou, Arnaud Dauriat
2008
Reports

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/e26147cb-04a0-47bd-90b4-bd6938257900

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Indirect land use change impacts of biofuels

The indirect land use change impacts of biofuels, also known as ILUC or iLUC (pronounced as i-luck), relates to the unintended consequence of releasing more carbon emissions due to land-use changes around the world induced by the expansion of croplands for ethanol or biodiesel production in response to the increased global demand for biofuels. As farmers worldwide respond to higher crop prices in order to maintain the global food supply-and-demand balance, pristine lands are cleared to replace the food crops that were diverted elsewhere to biofuels' production.

Biofuel

Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricultural, domestic or industrial biowaste. The climate change mitigation potential of biofuel varies considerably, from emission levels comparable to fossil fuels in some scenarios to negative emissions in others. Biofuels are mostly used for transportation, but can also be used for heating and electricity.

Sustainable biofuel

Sustainable biofuel is biofuel produced in a sustainable manner. It is not based on petroleum or other fossil fuels. It includes not using plants that are used for food stuff to produce the fuel thus disrupting the world's food supply. Low-carbon fuel standard In 2008, the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels released its proposed standards for sustainable biofuels. This includes 12 principles: "Biofuel production shall follow international treaties and national laws regarding such things as air quality, water resources, agricultural practices, labor conditions, and more.

Related publications (12)

Accounting for indirect land-use changes in GHG balances of biofuels: Review of current approaches

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