Potentials for bioenergy to mitigate climate change - A summary of recent findings from the IPCC and IEA

Aug 2007

Due to significant economic and technological uncertainties, the exact potentials for bioenergy to reduce carbon emissions in the long term remain unknown.
The IPCC estimates that over the next century bioenergy, in supplying 10-25% of world global energy, could provide 5-30% of cumulative carbon emission abatement.
In 2050 the use of bioenergy could account for between 6-9% of total CO2 emission reductions, assuming incentives equivalent to prices of 25 US$/tCO2.
Bioenergy supplied by agricultural sources has the potential to mitigate .07- 1.26 Gt CO2-eq/year at costs up to 20 US$/tCO2-eq. At higher costs of 50 US$/t CO2-eq, bioenergy from agricultural sources could reduce .56-2.32 Gt CO2-eq/year.
This document also contains a quick overview on:
Liquid Biofuel Reduction Potentials;
Key Definitions related to bioenergy;
and IEA’s future scenarios and perspectives.

By: C. Ferrentino (Global Bioenergy Partnership Secretariat)

 
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