Exploring trade-offs in the use of biomass for greenhouse gas mitigation

Image credit: ORNL

The chemical production industry is currently among the largest users of fossil fuel and is responsible for about seven per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet the majority of policies and government programs around the world incentivize biofuel usage in the transportation section while few programs exist to encourage using biomass in the chemicals industry.

Dr. Daniel Posen, an Assistant Professor in the University of Toronto’s Departments of Civil Engineering, spoke about the use of biomass as a strategy for reducing GHG emissions in the North America at the SOCAAR seminar on April 5.
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Sources of Fossil Fuel and Biomass Burning Black Carbon in Ontario

Source: Toronto Star

Black carbon (BC) particles are generated through incomplete combustion processes including combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. These two sources are most commonly from vehicles and residential wood burning for heating. BC has an overall warming effect on the global climate and long-term exposure to it has been associated with cardiopulmonary mortality.

Dr. Robert Healy, Senior Environmental Officer at The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, spoke about the Ministry’s work on assessing the sources of fossil fuel and biomass burning black carbon in Ontario at the SOCAAR Seminar on November 30th, 2016. Continue reading