Combating Climate Change with Phytoremediation: Is It Possible?

Soil contamination causes several environmental problems such as contamination of water resources, desertification, contamination of food crops, which, directly or indirectly, may bring health problems to humans. Therefore, there is a need to decontaminate the soils. Phytoremediation, the decontamination using plants, is an interesting alternative, especially when energy crops are adopted. Most of the energy crops are considered tolerant to contaminated soils, and the action merges the economical exploitation of the biomass for bioenergy or biomaterials, bringing additional income, with the decontamination action. Moreover, its use brings additional environmental returns, such as, the reduction of greenhouse gases and fossil energy savings, thus serving to combat climate change. In addition, phytoremediation with energy crops may bring to rural areas social benefits, and its launch on contaminated land, reduces competition for feed and food and land-use conflicts. However, the soil marginality and affect the productivity and biomass characteristics, threatening the environmental benefits and the economic value. In this context, it was reviewed the production of these crops in heavy metal contaminated soils, with a focus on the environmental aspects and the technological hindrances related with biomass quality. Ultimately, a critical evaluation of the literature data is made, and menaces and prospects are highlighted.