The conversion of high carbon-storage ecosystems, such as tropical forest, savanna and peatland into biofuel plants, can neutralise any GHG emission reductions achieved by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels, and even lead to a net increase in CO2 emissions. Biofuels, in the use phase, emit the carbon that has been previously absorbed during plant growth. Inputs during cultivation and conversion need to be accounted for. However, the bulk of GHG emissions are related to land-use change. The carbon footprint varies considerably depending on the type of land converted, the type and yield of the feedstock (tonnes per hectare). It is therefore key that any GHG analysis takes into account the entire life-cycle of biofuels, including impacts from land-use change. As illustrates this graphic, these CO2 emissions range across different types of land and crops.

Year: 2012

From collection: Biofuels Vital Graphics - Powering Green Economy

Cartographer: Nieves Lopez Izquierdo