title: Correcting a fundamental error in greenhouse gas accounting related to bioenergy.
abstract: Many international policies encourage a switch from fossil fuels to bioenergy based on the premise that its use would not result in carbon accumulation in the atmosphere. Frequently cited bioenergy goals would at least double the present global human use of plant material, the production of which already requires the dedication of roughly 75% of vegetated lands and more than 70% of water withdrawals. However, burning biomass for energy provision increases the amount of carbon in the air just like burning coal, oil or gas if harvesting the biomass decreases the amount of carbon stored in plants and soils, or reduces carbon sequestration. Neglecting this fact results in an accounting error that could be corrected by considering that only the use of 'additional biomass' - biomass from additional plant growth or biomass that would decompose rapidly if not used for bioenergy - can reduce carbon emissions. Failure to correct this accounting flaw will likely have substantial adverse consequences. The article presents recommendations for correcting greenhouse gas accounts related to bioenergy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Ecology, Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, Wien, Graz, Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haberl
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sprinz
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonazountas
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Desaubies
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kastrup
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laconte
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavola
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reenberg
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van den Hove
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vermeire
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wadhams
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Searchinger
keywords: Bioenergy; Greenhouse gas accounting; Greenhouse gas emissions