Biofuels, Indirect Land Use Change, and Global Warming Emissions

The US Renewable Fuel Standard increases demand for ethanol and biodiesel, leading to a higher proportion of US farmland being used for biofuel crops like corn and soybeans. Because global food demand remains constant, this displacement causes farmers in countries such as Brazil to convert grazing land to cropland, which in turn pushes ranchers to clear and burn forested land for livestock, releasing large volumes of CO2.

• The US Renewable Fuel Standard creates demand for ethanol and biodiesel, which leads the agricultural sector to increase the production of biofuel crops such as corn and soybeans.
• Increased US biofuel crop production reduces the percentage of food crops in total US agricultural output, forcing other countries like Brazil to convert grazing land into cropland to meet global food demand.
• The displacement of livestock from grazing land to previously forested areas results in the clearing and burning of forests, which releases significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Biofuels, Indirect Land Use Change, and Global Warming Emissions. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21092641/CATF_BioFuels_Factsheet_11.11.20.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Biofuels, Indirect Land Use Change, and Global Warming Emissions. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21092641/CATF_BioFuels_Factsheet_11.11.20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Biofuels, Indirect Land Use Change, and Global Warming Emissions |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21092641/CATF_BioFuels_Factsheet_11.11.20.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendbiofuels, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Biofuels, Indirect Land Use Change, and Global Warming Emissions}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21092641/CATF_BioFuels_Factsheet_11.11.20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }