THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology
Committee on Current Methods for Life Cycle Analyses
of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels in the United States
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Congressional Briefing
Monday, October 17, 2022 – 2:00 p.m.
via Zoom
on
Current Methods for Life Cycle Analyses
of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels in the United States
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides researchers and practitioners with a toolkit for applying life-cycle assessment to estimate greenhouse gas emissions, including identification of the best approach to use for a stated policy goal, how to reduce uncertainty and variability through verification and certification, and the core assumptions that can be applied to various fuel types. Policymakers should still use a tailored approach for each fuel type, given that petroleum-based ground, air, and marine transportation fuels necessitate different considerations than alternative fuels including biofuels, hydrogen, and electricity. Ultimately, life-cycle assessments should clearly document what assumptions and methods are used to ensure transparency.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on October 19, 2022 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.