In the race to mitigate climate change, the timing of our actions is critical. Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals for 2050 are prevalent in mainstream conversations, but conversations about what needs to be done in the interim are more muted. The scientific consensus is not just about net-zero by 2050; annual global emissions must peak before 2025. Furthermore, emissions must be reduced by 43 percent by 2030. It is not just about how much we must reduce emissions to avoid climate catastrophe but when we must act to do so.
For every five-year delay in reducing emissions, 13 times more reductions are needed to achieve the same climate benefit. This exponential increase emphasizes the non-linear and compounding nature of climate impacts. Early reductions are not just beneficial but essential.
The “time value of carbon” illustrates that the carbon reductions we achieve today have significantly more impact than future efforts. The concept is based on the understanding that greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, accumulate in the atmosphere and exacerbate global warming. CO2 has a long atmospheric lifetime, meaning today’s emissions will affect the climate for decades or even centuries. As a result, the longer CO2 emissions continue unchecked, the more entrenched the impacts of climate change become, leading to more severe and potentially irreversible effects.
This means we must not pass up opportunities to decarbonize our energy systems. Technological improvements are sure to come, but we cannot afford to wait when it comes to reducing emissions. Clean fuels such as biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, offer practical and immediate solutions to make progress on the goals we need to achieve in the near term. Moreover, they will continue to be a part of the long-term solution for substantial parts of our economy well past 2050.
Switching heavy-duty transportation and home heating oil to bio-based alternatives like biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF can lower lifecycle emissions by 70 percent on average in the U.S. Importantly, those reductions are felt across the entire fuel supply chain. Incentivizing emission-reducing land management practices for agricultural feedstocks used to produce clean fuels, like excess soybean oil, used cooking oil or animal fats, also mitigates the climate impact.
Biodiesel’s immediate integration into existing diesel engines without requiring major modifications makes it a practical and effective solution for reducing emissions. It is non-toxic and biodegradable with an ultra-low sulfur content and zero aromatics. Additionally, biodiesel’s higher cetane number improves combustion efficiency and reduces pollutants such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide. This cleaner-burning diesel replacement is critical for reducing emissions that contribute to poor air quality in ports, along major trucking routes and urban centers.
The Time Value of Carbon | The Better. Cleaner. Now! Podcast
The most important carbon to reduce is the carbon in the atmosphere now. Veronica Bradley, Clean Fuels Director of Environmental Science, discusses climate change and the role of renewable energy technologies with Dr. Jenny Frank, NORA consultant and Assistant Professor at SUNY Morrisville.
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Chemically identical to petroleum diesel, renewable diesel can also be used in any diesel engine, making it especially beneficial for heavy-duty transportation and logistics sectors that are hard to electrify in the short term. Renewable diesel’s superior cold-weather performance and higher energy content make it an attractive alternative to traditional diesel. When combined, biodiesel and renewable diesel produce a cost-effective, full replacement for petroleum diesel while significantly reducing particulate matter, carbon and nitrogen oxides contributing to climate change mitigation and improved air quality.
SAF offers the only viable pathway to substantial emission reductions for the aviation sector. It provides the energy density of a liquid fuel without the reliance on fossil fuel. Currently, SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without modifications, facilitating its immediate adoption. This integration is essential as the aviation industry focuses on efforts to increase blending limits to allow safe air travel on 100 percent fossil-free fuel in the future.
Incorporating biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF into our energy mix today can make substantial strides in reducing carbon emissions without any major lifestyle changes. By switching now, these early emission reductions can help stabilize atmospheric CO2 levels, mitigating the severity of climate impacts such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise and biodiversity loss. Prompt action also reduces the need for drastic measures in the future, making it easier for subsequent generations to manage and mitigate climate risks. Delaying action would place an overwhelming burden on future generations, requiring them to implement more radical and costly measures to achieve the same climate goals.
For every five-year delay in reducing emissions, 13 times more reductions are needed to achieve the same climate benefit.”
Veronica Bradley,
Director of Environmental Science at Clean Fuels Alliance America
Transitioning to clean fuels is not just good for the future of the planet but also for the health of the U.S. economy. With investments in crush facilities and production plants across the country, the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry is at the center of more than $23.2 billion in U.S. economic activity and supports nearly $3.6 billion in wages each year. As the nascent SAF industry takes off, these benefits will continue to grow, affecting the entire supply chain from the field to the fuel pump. When farmers adopt climate-smart agricultural practices like carbon-sequestering land management, they enrich their soil while reducing emissions and providing a steady revenue stream for their operations.
Clean fuels also create cleaner air for our communities while enhancing public health. According to a recent study conducted by Trinity Consultants, switching to 100 percent biodiesel can lead to fewer respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The results showed a reduction of over 457,000 asthma attacks per year and over 10,000 fewer cancer cases, avoiding over $7.5 billion in health care costs annually.
To harness the full potential of clean fuels, society, industry and consumers must work together to support the production and adoption of biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF. Federal and state programs that support immediate consumer access to clean fuels are helping to achieve the goal of avoiding future climate disasters. Voluntary markets supporting clean fuel environmental claims can also help unlock the demand potential for these fuels by sharing near-term cost premiums with other interested stakeholders.
The “time value of carbon” emphasizes that immediate action is not just an option — it is imperative. Our future depends on the decisions we make today. By incorporating clean fuels into our energy portfolio, we can make necessary and significant strides in decarbonizing now.
Originally shared by Clean Fuels Alliance America via Politico, June 27, 2024.