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Are biofuels worse for the climate than petrol and jet fuel?

28 min • 21 oktober 2022

Governments and the aviation industry have been promising for decades that fuel made from plants could solve the transport sector's CO2 emissions. Why hasn't it happened?

John DeCicco, Professor Emeritus at University of Michigan, has been studying transport emissions & biofuels for decades. Alasdair asked him about the alarming findings of his research: liquid biofuels could be worse for the climate than fossil fuels.

Further reading:

'Biofuels turn out to be a climate mistake – here's why' - The Conversation
'U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds' - Reuters
'Cellulosic ethanol falling far short of the hype' - Forbes
'Biofuel isn't as carbon neutral as we want it to be' - GreenBiz
Two of Professor DeCicco's papers: 'Reconsidering bioenergy given the urgency of climate protection'; 'Carbon balance effects of U.S. biofuel production and use'
Also see our podcasts with John Sterman (forest bioenergy) and Finlay Asher (sustainable aviation fuel), and browse our online bioenergy hub.

Click here for our website to read all our most recent Land and Climate Review features and pieces.

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