A review of variability in indirect land use change assessment and modeling in biofuel policy

• Published in: Environmental science & policy Vol. 29; pp. 147 - 157
• Main Authors: Broch, Amber, Hoekman, S. Kent, Unnasch, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biofuel production; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; California; carbon; carbon sinks; Emission factor; emissions factor; Energy; energy policy; environmental science; Exact sciences and technology; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; greenhouse gas emissions; greenhouse gases; Indirect land use change; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; land use change; Life cycle assessment; Low Carbon Fuel Standard; Natural energy; Renewable Fuel Standard; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; California; Btu; Mton; mBtu; Indirect land use change; CO2; GHG; Low Carbon Fuel Standard; CARD; tC; CARB; FORCARB; ILUC; gCO2,eqMJ−1; FAPRI; RFS2; CO2,eq; LHV; LUC; MJ; bgal; Life cycle assessment; Renewable Fuel Standard; IPCC; CI; LCFS; Emission factor; N2O; WHRC; LCA; Biofuels; CH4; MODIS; FASOM; IFPRI; EU; CRC; TJ; EPA; ha; DAYCENT; GTAP; Policy; Alternative fuel; Life cycle (environment); Ecobalance; Land use change; Low carbon economy; Biofuel; Review; Modeling; Renewable energy; Environment impact

► ILUC contributes a significant fraction of biofuel life-cycle carbon intensity. ► ILUC modeling approaches are varied and produce different results. ► The amount of forest conversion predicted has a large impact on GHG estimates. ► Conservation of forests should be a primary focus to lessen the im...