Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels

The development of sustainable biofuels is at a crucial point. They are key to decarbonizing transportation, especially in aviation and shipping, and complement electric vehicles and energy efficiency. However, their large-scale deployment raises concerns, as their climate benefit depends on the carbon intensity of their production. Sound regulatory frameworks and transparent scientific calculations are needed to attract investment. This study, in support of Brazil's G20 presidency, analyzes these challenges and the differences in biofuel carbon accounting between regions. It highlights the variability of GHG emissions over their life cycle, with land use change as a point of contention. It concludes that policies should adopt pragmatic approaches to continuously improve the sustainability of biofuels.