Carbon management is the obverse of alternative fuels production and consumption, a closing of the cycle with respect to carbon emissions, or, at the very least, a containment in the volume of emissions.

The raison d'etre behind the promotion of some though not all alternative fuels is the pursuit of carbon neutrality, that is, balancing carbon emissions with the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by various means. What is produced is ultimately removed, and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere eventually returns to historic levels.

We believe that regulatory constraints upon heavy emitters of CO2 including many fuel producers will grow more onerous over time, and that those in the business of fuel production will be pressed to demonstrate the ultimate carbon neutrality of their products on a life cycle basis. That is why we are including these sections on the carbon economy and on strategies for carbon compliance.

At the same time we must state that we do not believe that heavy global reductions in CO2 emissions are in the offing, and indeed it is entirely possible that emissions of greenhouse gases will continue to increase, far surpassing their already dangerously high levels. The problems of reconciling stringent carbon mitigation goals with global demands for strong economic growth and increases in industrial capacity are considerable, and, in the past, growth has always taken precedence even in nations with an expressed commitment to drastic reductions in atmospheric carbon.

Nevertheless, because these issues are so central to our industry, they must be grasped and addressed by industry participants. Hence the information that follows.