Governance of Bioenergy
The development, production and use of bioenergy have become increasingly attractive to governments around the world as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas). The attractions of bioenergy are many. However, awareness is increasing about some of the potential environmental, economic and social risks associated with bioenergy development, and aspects of the current situation may represent a failure of good risk governance.
This project aimed to prepare risk governance guidelines for bioenergy – the production of electricity, heat and transport fuel from biomass. It addressed the key challenges that policymakers face when developing and implementing policies and regulations that address the demands for an expanded production of bioenergy. The project hoped to develop recommendations for risk governance that will enable societies to benefit from emerging bioenergy technologies while minimising the negative consequences of their associated risks. It was concluded in February 2008 with the publication of a policy brief.
Some key elements:
Focus on bioenergy, not only on biofuels. We have included aspects related to the trade-offs between biomass used for food vs. energy and, within energy, biomass used for heat and electricity vs. fuel.
Focus on science and technology, drawing on science-based research and combining it with the understanding of experts in the public and private sectors to develop fact-based risk governance recommendations for policymakers.
By integrating the different dimensions of technology, economy, trade, security and sustainability, the project focussed on the global governance processes that could be put in place at the various levels of decision and practice: local/regional, national and international.
There is no "one size fits all solution" and we have intended to deliver a product that will allow decision-makers in different contexts (economic, social and geographic) to recognize the policy implications of these differences.
The project was overseen by an Advisory Board that debated the preparatory findings, provided new knowledge to the project and drew concluding recommendations for decision-makers. IRGC wishes to thank the Advisory Board members for their dedication to this project. We also thank the many workshop participants for sharing their knowledge and opinions.
Our work on bioenergy has been funded from IRGC general funds. We thank all the organisations who contribute to IRGC in this way. The total budget for this project was CHF 113,000.
For more information about this project, please contact Ms Malin Samuelsson