Which phases are included in a fuel's lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions?

• A. Only combustion phase.
• B. Extraction, processing, transport, use, and end-of-life.
• C. Extraction and processing only.
• D. Only use phase.

Answer: (B)

Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions include every stage from getting the fuel out of the ground to what happens after it’s used. That means emissions aren’t just from burning the fuel; they also come from extracting the resource, processing it into a usable form, and moving it around to where it will be used. Methane leaks and energy use during extraction and processing can add up, and transporting the fuel adds more emissions. After the fuel is burned, there can be emissions tied to what happens with any remaining fuel, byproducts, and the infrastructure used to store or dispose of it. Because all of these phases contribute to the total climate impact, the full lifecycle—extraction, processing, transport, use, and end-of-life—must be considered. Focusing only on combustion would miss substantial upstream and end-of-life emissions.