GRFA report shows increased GHG emissions reductions thanks to ethanol

In France, at the World Climate Summit under way in Paris, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance in cooperation with (S&T)2 Consultants Inc., an internationally renowned energy and environmental consulting firm, released a new report “Green House Gas (GHG) Emission Reductions from World Biofuel Production and Use for 2015.”

The report was released to inform debate at World Climate Summit event organized by the GRFA, the Biotechnology Industry Association and EuropaBIO entitled: “Building a sustainable bioeconomy: harnessing the potential of bio-based products and fuels to mitigate climate change.” The purpose of the event is to:

– Provide informal input into the COP21 agenda from a range of bio innovation stakeholders
– Showcase the potential of biobased products and alternative low carbon fuels to help fight climate change
– Identify policy measures that can enable the low carbon economy and contribute to solving the problem of climate change

The report found that year after year the reduction in global GHG emissions from global ethanol production and use is increasing. The total GHG emission reductions forecast for 2014 is 169 million metric tons CO₂ equivalent, which is bigger than the total GHG emissions in 28 Annex 1 countries.
The report also includes production scenarios for 2030. Based on a conservative annual growth rate of 2.8 percent biofuel production and use emission savings could increase from 168.9 million metric tons per year in 2014 to 264 million metric tons CO₂ equivalent in 2030. This represents a 56 percent increase in GHG emission reductions.