In a recent issue of One Earth – a journal in sustainability science, Prof. Shabbir H. Gheewala of the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), shared his views on how sustainable biofuels can support the global transition to net-zero emissions.
Prof. Gheewala emphasized that sustainability goes beyond reducing carbon emissions. It also involves protecting biodiversity, managing land and water resources, and maintaining ecological balance. While biofuels emit less carbon than fossil fuels, he stressed the importance of evaluating their entire life cycle. This includes considering the connections between energy, water, food, land, and climate to prevent negative side effects.
He highlighted the need to align biofuel development with planetary boundaries to ensure environmental sustainability. Key strategies include maximizing biomass efficiency through biorefineries, applying carbon capture technologies, and promoting good governance. He also underscored the importance of avoiding deforestation, supporting smallholder farmers, and reducing emissions in carbon-intensive sectors such as steel and cement.
Prof. Gheewala was one of ten global experts featured in the article “Pathways to Sustainable Biofuels.” Read the full article at: https://www.cell.com/one-earth/abstract/S2590-3322(25)00210-6
Note: One Earth, published by Elsevier through its Cell Press division, is a Q1 interdisciplinary journal with a high Impact Factor (12.6, 2023) and CiteScore (15.1, Scopus, 2023), making it one of the leading journals in the fields of sustainability, climate change, and energy policy.
