Climate policy decisions require policy-based lifecycle analysis
Bento, AM; Klotz, R
HERO ID
3320298
Reference Type
Journal Article
Year
2014
Language
English
PMID
| HERO ID | 3320298 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2014 |
| Title | Climate policy decisions require policy-based lifecycle analysis |
| Authors | Bento, AM; Klotz, R |
| Journal | Environmental Science & Technology |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Page Numbers | 5379-5387 |
| Abstract | Lifecycle analysis (LCA) metrics of greenhouse gas emissions are increasingly being used to select technologies supported by climate policy. However, LCAs typically evaluate the emissions associated with a technology or product, not the impacts of policies. Here, we show that policies supporting the same technology can 1 lead to dramatically different emissions impacts per unit of technology added, due to multimarket responses to the policy. Using a policy-based consequential LCA, we find that the lifecycle emissions impacts of four US biofuel policies range from a reduction of 16.1 gCO(2)e to an increase of 24.0 gCO(2)e per MJ corn ethanol added by the policy. The differences between these results and representative technology-based LCA measures, which do not account for the policy instrument driving the expansion in the technology, illustrate the need for policy-based LCA measures when informing policy decision making. |
| Doi | 10.1021/es405164g |
| Pmid | 24810247 |
| Wosid | WOS:000336415200006 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Keyword | petrochemicals; land use; biofuels; bioethanol; fossil fuels |