Idioma principal do documento: Inglês


Resumo em Inglês: This paper is a compilation of example principles, frameworks and tools already in use in the conservation community which may be applied to bioenergy production to identify and reduce environmental as well as socio-economic risks and promote opportunties. The aim is to provide the range of stakeholders who are engaged in the bioenergy agenda (governments, businesses, communities, land owners, and individuals) the tools to achieve more sustainable outcomes in relation to ecosystems and livelihoods. Key recommendations from this paper are: 1) do not re-invent the wheel 2) think broadly about objectives 3) do not wait 4) expand and adapt existing tools 5) use common sense 6) bioenergy is not just about biofuels 1) Do not re-invent the wheel Despite serious and legitimate concerns about the risks, it should be noted that bioenergy is not new1 and is here to stay. Soaring fossil fuel prices and growing concern about climate change recently prompted the IEA to note that “the question is no longer whether bioenergy can play a role in future energy supply, but more the extent, timing and cost of the contribution” (IEA, 2007). Due to the recent rapid growth of the sector, careful planning, and adaptation of existing knowledge is called for that quickly maximises the opportunities of bioenergy whilst minimizing the risks. 2) Think broadly about objectives While the tools and guidelines presented in this paper can help improve the sustainability of bioenergy developments, assuming that the project is needed and is an optimal use of resources is a flawed starting point – it is worthwhile to question such assumptions before setting out. Project planners should assess the opportunity costs of all viable project options and not assume that bioenergy provides the best synergies between energy, environment and development goals in every context. 3) Do not wait Numerous tools already exist that may serve various demands, often with minimal adaptation in order to be applicable to bioenergy or biofuel-specific scenarios. Biofuels, after all, are the product of diverting existing biomass production (food crops such as corn and soy, wastes, and cellulosic biomass from grasses, forests etc…) into new processes and products. The challenges of sustainable management of the natural or agricultural resource remain essentially unchanged. What is different from conventional agriculture and forestry is the added complexity of understanding energy pathways, the interplay of agricultural and energy markets, and in some cases, complex industrial processing technologies and standards. Despite this complexity, many potential tools are well suited to addressing a wide range of sustainability challenges. Indeed, due to the large number of potential tools, it should be noted that the ones presented in this paper are indicative of the range of tools available and are not necessarily the “best” or only tools to use in any specific context. 4) Expand and adapt existing tools We encourage project planners and other stakeholders to adapt the tools in this paper to best fit the specific contexts in which they are to be used. This paper intentionally avoids giving step-by-step guidelines since so many aspects of sustainability are context-specific. There are numerous opportunities to use existing tools and datasets innovatively to feed into decision-making at multiple scales. An example might be to overlay World Heath Organization smoke inhalation data with bioenergy feedstock potential models from the FAO to identify areas of greatest potential to reduce health impacts from traditional fuelwood and dung combustion. 5) Common sense Many of the tools presented in this paper encourage and facilitate common sense: engaging stakeholders, agreeing on and setting objectives, establishing environmental, economic and social baselines, and monitoring outcomes of project interventions are not new actions that apply only to bioenergy. Indeed, many of the tools are in fact structured and packaged methodologies for applying a common range of skill sets that are the foundation of any successful conservation or development project. These skills, which should underpin any project process, can be summarized as: • Knowledge of resources • Knowledge of laws and institutions • Humility & learning • Observing and adapting2 6) Bioenergy is not just about biofuels Whilst liquid biofuels produced from agricultural crops currently dominate much of the debate, the potential for production of heat, electricity and second-generation liquid biofuels from a wider range of non-food biomass is perhaps of greater long-term significance. As bioenergy use becomes more widespread and second-generation technologies mature, it is likely that the nature of environmental and social risks will shift and so will the focus of the current sustainability debate. q 1 According to the International Energy Agency, bioenergy currently supplies about 10 percent of total primary energy supply worldwide, and in 2005 accounted for 78 percent of all renewable energy. In some developing countries it accounts for up to 80 percent of total primary energy supply, whereas in most industrialised countries it provides less than 5 percent. IEA, 2007. Key World Energy Statistics. 2 Sayer, J. in ArborVitae 35, 2007.
Palavras-chave em Inglês: Bioenergy, Impact Assessment tools, Agricultural tools, Water Resource tools, Forestry tools; Ecosystem Restoration tools, Protected Area tools, Threatened Species tools; Invasive Species tools, Food Security tools, Gender tools; Climate Adaptation tools, Certification, Standards & Labelling; Economic tools, Key Recommendations

Tipo: Livro/E-Book

Áreas temáticas: Ciências Agrárias e Desenv. Rural, Ciências e Tecnol. do Ambiente, Energia e Transportes
Ano publicação/produção:  2009

Instituição: IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Referência bibliográfica: Keam, S. and McCormick, N. (2008). Implementing Sustainable Bioenergy Production; A Compilation of Tools and Approaches. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 32pp.

Número de páginas:  32

Preço:  0 €

Formato: pdf

Tamanho:  4,1 Mbytes