S&T Consultants Inc., an internationally recognised energy and environmental consulting firm, has released a report that demonstrates world biofuels production in 2009 has reduced global GHG emissions by 123.5 million tons.

That represents an average reduction of 57% compared with the emissions that would have occurred from the production and use of equal quantities of petroleum fuels.

Bliss Baker of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance said this proved again that biofuels production and use was already playing a vital role in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.

Baker said biofuels were and must continue to be on the front line of the Climate Change fight.

The report estimated that in 2009, world ethanol production of 73.7 billion litres reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 87.6 million tonnes.

And with global biodiesel production forecast to be 16.4 billion litres, GHG emissions would be reduced by 35.9 million tonnes.