Bioenergy production and sustainable development: science base for policymaking remains limited

Robledo-Abad C, Althaus HJ, Berndes G, Bolwig S, Corbera E, Creutzig F, Garcia-Ulloa J, Geddes A, Gregg JS, Haberl H, Hanger S, Harper RJ, Hunsberger C, Larsen RK, Lauk C, Leitner S, Lilliestam J, Lotze-Campen H, Muys B, Nordborg M, Ölund M, Orlowsky B, Popp A, Portugal-Pereira J, Reinhard J, Scheiffle L, Smith P (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Book Volume: 9

Pages Range: 541-556

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12338

Abstract

The possibility of using bioenergy as a climate change mitigation measure has sparked a discussion of whether and how bioenergy production contributes to sustainable development. We undertook a systematic review of the scientific literature to illuminate this relationship and found a limited scientific basis for policymaking. Our results indicate that knowledge on the sustainable development impacts of bioenergy production is concentrated in a few well-studied countries, focuses on environmental and economic impacts, and mostly relates to dedicated agricultural biomass plantations. The scope and methodological approaches in studies differ widely and only a small share of the studies sufficiently reports on context and/or baseline conditions, which makes it difficult to get a general understanding of the attribution of impacts. Nevertheless, we identified regional patterns of positive or negative impacts for all categories – environmental, economic, institutional, social and technological. In general, economic and technological impacts were more frequently reported as positive, while social and environmental impacts were more frequently reported as negative (with the exception of impacts on direct substitution of GHG emission from fossil fuel). More focused and transparent research is needed to validate these patterns and develop a strong science underpinning for establishing policies and governance agreements that prevent/mitigate negative and promote positive impacts from bioenergy production.

Authors with CRIS profile

Additional Organisation(s)

Involved external institutions

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich Switzerland (CH) Chalmers University of Technology / Chalmers tekniska högskola Sweden (SE) Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Sweden (SE) Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt Austria (AT) Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK) / Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Germany (DE) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven Belgium (BE) Technical University of Denmark / Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) Denmark (DK) Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Spain (ES) Technische Universität Berlin Germany (DE) Murdoch University Australia (AU) Western University Canada (CA) University of Gothenburg / Göteborgs universitet Sweden (SE) climate-babel Germany (DE) Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) / Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Brazil (BR) Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) / Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology Switzerland (CH) University of Aberdeen United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Robledo-Abad, C., Althaus, H.J., Berndes, G., Bolwig, S., Corbera, E., Creutzig, F.,... Smith, P. (2017). Bioenergy production and sustainable development: science base for policymaking remains limited. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 9(3), 541-556. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12338

MLA:

Robledo-Abad, Carmenza, et al. "Bioenergy production and sustainable development: science base for policymaking remains limited." Global Change Biology Bioenergy 9.3 (2017): 541-556.

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