Bioenergy growth poses challenges to policymakers and industry players

GBEP is committed to promoting bioenergy for sustainable development but this can only happen if the entire production chain is sustainable. At an environmental level, this relates above all to feedstock production. One of the greatest threats posed by expanding energy cultivations arises when natural ecosystems are converted to agricultural use, in particularly where this puts increased pressure on forests. Clearing forests for crops causes the obliteration of species and their natural habitats as well as causing a dramatic rise in greenhouse-gas emissions. Sustainability also has its social and economic aspects. This means understanding how modern bioenergy can create jobs for unskilled workers in poor, rural areas and ensuring proper labour conditions as well as fair access to land and water. Considering that much growth in bioenergy is driven by government incentives, these need to be carefully targeted to ensure technologies and economically and commercially viable.

Bioenergy offers significant potentials for emission reductions in the generation of electricity or heat and in the transport sector. To maximise this benefit, the greenhouse-gas savings on offer must be assessed throughout bioenergy life cycle – from well to wheel – to make sure no adverse side effects are created elsewhere in the chain. The various parties involved in this regard have agreed on the need to make sure a common set of rules is put in place to enable across-the-board estimates of emission reductions from various biofuels, applicable to all types of bioenergy in all parts of the globe. To this end, the Global Bioenergy Partnership has set up a task force to work on a harmonised methodology.

A major challenge, and one that has been in the spotlight recently, regards food security. Liquid biofuel production from edible crops is booming, contributing to an increase in the price of some staple foods as demand for agricultural commodities rises. The relationship between bioenergy and food security is therefore complex.

Last, but not least, biofuels promise new and dynamic export flows, especially from tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world, where biomass productivity is high. But a truly international market will require more producing countries to be in a position to export large surpluses. It will also need for market distortions and trade barriers to be eliminated and a level playing field to be established. Labelling and certification of biofuels and related feedstock will be instrumental to ensure that widespread biofuel production and use will indeed be conducive to environmental improvements.

 

Back to menu of articles

 

Leggi le notizie in italiano

home