Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
1
1. Purpose of the Paper .........................................................................................................................2
2. oenergy n the 6IobaI fnergy Context ..............................................................................................3
3. key SustanabIty Issues ....................................................................................................................6
Issuc 1: AbIty of Hodern oenergy to
Provde fnergy Servces for the Poor .............................................................................6
Issuc 2: ImpIcatons for Agro-IndustraI ueveIopment
and ]ob Creaton ........................................................................................................12
Issuc 3: BeaIth and 6ender ImpIcatons of Hodern oenergy ................................................20
Issuc 4: ImpIcatons for the Structure of AgrcuIture ...............................................................24
Issuc 5: ImpIcatons for food Securty ...................................................................................31
Issuc 6: ImpIcatons for 6overnment udget ...........................................................................36
Issuc 7: ImpIcatons for 1rade, foregn fxchange aIances,
and fnergy Securty ....................................................................................................39
Issuc 8: Impacts on odversty and haturaI kesource Hanagement .......................................43
Issuc 9: ImpIcatons for CImate Change .................................................................................48
4. lookng forward .............................................................................................................................51
5. Source HateraI and further keadng ...............................................................................................57
1able oI Contents
SfC1IUh
SfC1IUh
SfC1IUh
SfC1IUh
SfC1IUh
I
n our Irst paper, uh-Fnergy Iocused on "1he Fnergy
Challenge Ior Achieving the Hillennium uevelopment
Coals." we pointed out that available energy services
Iail to meet the needs oI the world's poor, with 2.4 billion
people relying on traditional biomass Ior their energy
needs and 1.6 billion not having any access to electricity.
1he basic commitments to poor people cannot be met
without a Iar more Iocused approach to energy services.
At the same time, awareness has grown across the world oI
the impact oI human energy consumption on our environ-
ment, and speciIcally on our global and regional climate.
whatever the optimal energy mix, it is clear that nations
Iace tough choices in their approach to sources oI energy.
It is no surprise, then, that global interest in bioenergy
has grown rapidly in recent years. Irom being merely an
interest oI marginal innovators, it has become a multi-
billion dollar businesstransIorming economiesthanks
to rising attention and support Irom governments and the
public. what could be more appealing than home-grown
energy, essentially created by sun-and-water-Iuelled
photosynthesis, with new |obs and development
opportunities to be tapped?
et, nothing human or ecological is straightIorward. And
so it is with bioIuels, perhaps particularly liquid bioIuels.
will bioIuels push out Iood crops, raise Iood prices, and
exacerbate Iood security? will bioIuels create unexpected
negative rather than positive external environmental
eIIects? Could bioIuels even exacerbate the impact on
climate when the entire production chain is taken into
account? Eow will increased investment in bioIuels
aIIect trade patterns? what would a sustainable
approach to bioenergy look like? 1hese questions
need to be addressed.
In this latest publication, uh-Fnergy seeks to structure the
approach to the current discussion on bioenergy. "Sus-
tainable 8ioenergy: A Iramework Ior uecision-Hakers" is
the contribution oI the uh system to the issues that
need Iurther attention, analysis, and valuation, so that
appropriate trade-oIIs can be made and both the energy
needs oI people met and the local and global environ-
ment adequately protected. we hope that development
partnerships at the country level as well as the manage-
ment oI global issues will be helped by our articulation
oI the issues.
uh-Fnergy is a collaborative Iramework Ior all uh bodies
that contribute to energy solutions. It was born out oI the
2002 world Summit on Sustainable uevelopment (wSSu}
in }ohannesburg, South AIrica. 8ased on the Summit's
outcomes and action plan, it brings together the top-
level energy managers oI the uh system in a modest,
collective approach to inIorm analysis, inspire dialogue,
and ultimately promote action by governments, energy
stakeholders, and multilateral organizations. we do not
replace inter-governmental policy dialogue. hor can we
match the resources oI the private sector and civil society.
Eowever, rooted in the multilateral Irameworks oI the
Hillennium Summit, Iinancing Ior uevelopment, the
wSSu, and the world Summit oI 2005, we hope to use the
collective strength oI the uh system to eIIect change.
1his paper was sponsored by the Iood and
Agriculture urganization (IAu}, drawing on important
support Irom the worldwatch Institute in creating the
document. Hany members oI uh-Fnergy have contributed
actively. we are grateIul to all, and in particular to the
vice Chair oI uh-Fnergy, Custavo 8est oI IAu. In the spirit
oI our chosen method oI work, this is a |oint product. we
hope that you will Ind it inspirational reading.
!o!; )o+!;;o+
VA1S kARLSSUN
CEAIR, UN-FNFRCY
APRIL 2007
PreIace
...APPRUPRIA1F 1RAUF-UIIS CAN BF VAUF ANU
BU1E 1EF FNFRCY NFFUS UI PFUPLF VF1 ANU
1EF LUCAL ANU CLUBAL FNvIRUNVFN1
AUFUA1FLY PRU1FC1FU.
1
his paper on sustainable bioenergy was
draIted collectively by uh-Fnergy members,
which include all oI the united hations (uh}
agencies, programmes, and organizations working
in the area oI energy, reIecting their insights and
expertise. It is intended to contribute to internation-
al discussions on the strategies and policies needed
to ensure economic, sustainable, and equitable
development oI bioenergy in the years ahead.
uh-Fnergy uses the deInition oI sustainable
development adopted by the uh Commission on
Sustainable uevelopment (CSu}, i.e., "development
that meets the needs oI the present without
compromising the ability oI Iuture generations to
meet their own needs."
1he paper points to key social, economic, and
ecological sustainability issues raised by the rapid
development oI bioenergy in both small- and
large-scale applications. It encompasses the entire
bioenergy value chain, Irom production to use,
with the goal oI providing a Iramework Ior decision-
makers who are considering adopting new policies
or launching new investments in the bioenergy
sector. It is not designed to provide prescriptive
measures, but rather to identiIy areas that
require priority attention at the national and
international levels.
1he paper encompasses all bioenergy systems but
Iocuses in particular on modern bioenergy, which
includes liquid bioIuels, biogas, and solid biomass
Ior heat and power generation. 1raditional use oI
bioenergy, in the Iorm oI ineIIcient direct combus-
tion, is prevalent in many poor rural regions but is
not the primary Iocus oI this document. 8ecause
oI rapidly increasing attention to liquid bioIuels,
this paper discusses these in more detail than other
Iorms oI modern bioenergy.
1he issues raised by bioenergy development are
complex and highly dependent on local
circumstances (climatic, agronomic, economic, and
social}, such that sweeping generalizations about
the eIIcacy oI particular approaches are rarely
valid. 1he paper is intended to raise key questions
and explain the principal trade-oIIs involved in
bioenergy development, and to contribute to both
the international discourse on these issues and the
inIormed decision-making oI policy makers.
Crowing commitments to bioenergy in recent
years are based on studies showing that the
diversiIcation oI energy supplies can contribute to
both economic and environmental goals, includ-
ing the uh Hillennium uevelopment Coals (HuCs},
adopted in 2000.
1he paper adopts the Iollowing outline. Section 2
describes the role oI bioenergy in the global energy
context, including the potential beneIts and
trade-oIIs. Section 3 provides a Iramework Ior
decision-makers to consider nine key sustainability
issues Iacing bioenergy development:
1. Ilc ability oj modcrn biocncrgy to providc
cncrgy scrvircs jor tlc poor;
2. lmplirations jor agroindustrial dcvclopmcnt
and job rrcation;
3. hcaltl and gcndcr implirations;
4. lmplirations jor tlc strurturc oj agrirulturc;
5. lmplirations jor jood scrurity;
6. lmplirations jor govcrnmcnt budgct;
7. lmplirations jor tradc, jorcign cxrlangc
balanrcs, and cncrgy scrurity;
8. lmparts on biodivcrsity and natural rcsourrc
managcmcnt; and
9. lmplirations jor rlimatc rlangc.
Section 4 concludes that bioenergy should continue
to be discussed at the national and international
levels and oIIers a brieI Iramework Ior action.
Section 5 provides a list oI sources and suggestions
Ior Iurther reading.
Section 1: Purpose oI the Paper
8
ioenergy, deIned as energy produced Irom
organic matter or biomass, has recently be-
come one oI the most dynamic and rapidly
changing sectors oI the global energy economy.
Accelerated growth in the production and use oI
bioenergy in the past Iew years is attracting interest
Irom policy makers and investors around the globe.
Hodern bioenergy technologies
1
that produce heat,
electricity, and transport Iuels are advancing rap-
idly, with much oI the recent interest Iocusing on
liquid bioIuels, in particular ethanol and biodiesel.
1he united States and 8razil dominate today's liq-
uid bioIuels industry, but many other governments
are now actively considering the appropriate role
Ior bioIuels in their Iuture energy portIolios.
"1he gradual move away Irom oil has begun. uver
the next 15 to 20 years we may see bioIuels provid-
ing a Iull 25 percent oI the world's energy needs."
Alexander H ller, Assistant uirector-Ceneral Ior
the Sustainable uevelopment uepartment, IAu
Clobal production oI bioIuels alone has doubled in
the last Ive years and will likely double again in the
next Iour. Among countries that have enacted new,
pro-bioIuel policies in recent years are Argentina,
Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Fcuador, India,
Indonesia, Halawi, Halaysia, Hexico, Hozambique,
the Philippines, Senegal, South AIrica, 1hailand,
and Lambia.
"|8ioenergy| is an opportunity to add to the world
supply oI energy to meet the enormous growing
demand and hopeIully to mitigate some oI the price
eIIects. It's an opportunity to do so in an environ-
mentally Iriendly way and in a way that is carbon-
neutral. It's an opportunity to do so in a way that
developing countries like 8razil can provide income
and employment Ior their people." world 8ank
President Paul wolIowitz.
1hree times in the past three decades, oil-depend-
ent economies have been aIIected by dramatic oil
price increasesin the mid 1970s, the early 1980s,
and the current period (200407}. uil imports now
consume a large and unsustainable share oI the
meagre Ioreign exchange earnings oI many poor
nations, in some cases oIIsetting any gains Irom
recent Ioreign debt elimination agreements. In
some countries, the Ioreign exchange drain Irom
recent higher oil prices was Ive times the gain
Irom recent debt relieI.
unstable and unpredictable oil prices have com-
plicated economic planning around the world,
and market analysts expect this pattern to persist.
uil production has already peaked in a long list oI
ma|or oil producing nations, including Indonesia,
Hexico, horway, the united Kingdom, and the unit-
ed States. 1he International Fnergy Agency pro|ects
that oil prices will remain in the $48$62 range
through 2030.
1
In addition to the price level, the
dramatically increased volatility oI oil prices that
began in 2004 is Iurther damaging poor economies.
AIrica's current oil crisis is "an unIolding catastro-
phe that could set back eIIorts to reduce poverty
and promote economic development Ior years."
Abdoulaye wade, President oI Senegal
kecent oil price increases have had devastating
eIIects on many oI the world's poor countries, some
oI which now spend as much as six times as much
on Iuel as they do on health. uthers spend twice
the money on Iuels as on poverty reduction. At a
time when energy analysts predict a period oI
Section 2: 8ioenergy in the
Clobal Fnergy Context
1EF CRAUUAL VUvF AwAY IRUV UIL EAS
BFCUN. UvFR 1EF NF\1 1S 1U 20 YFARS wF
VAY SFF BIUIUFLS PRUvIUINC A IULL 2S
PFRCFN1 UI 1EF wURLU'S FNFRCY NFFUS.
1
Hodern bioenergy
reIers to biomass
that may be either
burned directly,
Iurther processed
into densiIed and
dried solid Iuels,
or converted into
liquids or gaseous
Iuels using so-called
Irst- or second-
generation technolo-
gies, depending on
their level oI
development.
UX 1.
fUS1fkIh6 ]A1kUPBA IUfhfk6 Ih HAlIAh vIllA6fS
5nce 1999, u locul N60 n Mul culleJ the Mul-Iolkecenter Nyetuu jMIC Nyetuuj hus been workng
on the romoton oj jutrohu, un olseeJ lunt, us u source oj locul boenergy. MIC Nyetuu
reresents 0enmurk's Iolkecenter jor Renewuble Fnergy unJ s suorteJ by globul urtners
ncluJng UNFP, UN0P, unJ the 6lobul Vlluge Fnergy Purtnersh j6VFPj.
MIC Nyetuu's nterest n jutrohu stems jrom two mun observutons. Irst, becuuse the lunt
s reslent enough to grow n the jrugle unJ urJ Mulun envronment, t cun be cultvuteJ on
substunJurJ lunJ unJ hel restore eroJeJ ureus, ejjectvely generutng cleun energy whle helng
to reJuce curbon JoxJe emssons unJ revtulse locul ecosystems. 5econJ, Mul JeenJs heuvly
on jossl juel morts to meet ts moJern energy neeJs. jutrohu rovJes u vuble energy
ulternutve unJ hus vust otentul jor bulJng u vbrunt unJ Jynumc locul economy n remote
vlluges, uJJng vulue locully unJ generutng emloyment unJ ncome through the sule oj seeJs
unJ sub-roJucts.
MIC Nyetuu's rojects jocus on severul usects oj jutrohu roJucton unJ use, ncluJng
luntuton, use us u lvng heJge, sou mukng, use us u Jesel substtute jor trunsortuton, unJ
ower generuton jor rurul electrcuton. In the vlluge oj Tcourubougou, the grou luuncheJ
the Jeu oj "energy servce centres" bult urounJ jutrohu. 5ome 20 hectures oj luntutons grow
seeJs jor roJucng jutrohu ol, whch s useJ us juel to ower uctvtes lke mllet grnJng unJ
buttery churgng. Vlluges wthn u 20-klometer ruJus ulso benet jrom these servces.
In colluboruton wth ts urtners, MIC Nyetuu hus emburkeJ on u lurge-scule, 15-yeur
jutrohu-jueleJ rurul electrcuton roject n the vlluge oj 6urulo n southern Mul. The roject
wll set u 1,000 hectures oj jutrohu luntutons to rovJe ol jor u 300-klowutt ower lunt.
The juclty ums to rovJe electrcty unJ other moJern energy servces to more thun 10,000
resJents, otentully trunsjormng the locul economy.
Section 3: Key Sustainability Issues
IHPlfHfh1A1IUh ISS0fS
4. Inuncng
Iinancing has a unique connotation when Iocusing
on the poorest sectors oI rural populations. In these
cases, the main ob|ective should be to provide the
means (including the minimum levels oI energy
services} to allow these populations to move out oI
extreme poverty. "Iinancing development" is an ap-
proach that has been applied widely in many coun-
tries, with subsidies being granted Ior electricity
and in many cases liquid Iuels Ior operating water
pumps and other devices. 1he key issues are level,
timescale, and conditions. Ior example, with regard
to conditions, subsidized Inance could tie policy
support speciIcally to least-cost energy options.
A commonly accepted concept is that subsidies
Ior energy sources and/or services should be
transparent and linked to the economic
development they are supposed to promote.
Subsidies should "accompany" development and,
iI successIul, ultimately become unnecessary. 1o
date, consumption oI domestically produced liquid
bioIuels has always depended on government
support, but additional measures may be necessary
Ior small-scale Iarmers iI they are to be included
in medium- or large-scale bioIuel crop production.
1his support can be in the Iorm oI policies sup-
porting decentralised production, local use oI the
energy produced, and organization oI cooperatives
or other Iorms oI participation.
Iinancial development instruments vary greatly,
in some cases targeting the price (price support
measures}, the consumer (bank loans Ior purchasing
end-use equipment}, or the producer (helping entre-
preneurs invest in production Iacilities, tax breaks,
etc.}. 1he universe oI prospective beneIciaries in-
cludes instances where pro-poor energy services are
economically viable, competitive, and/or aIIordable
without subsidies, but do not get oII the ground due
to lack oI access to upIront Inance. It also includes
beneIciaries that are never competitive or aIIord-
able, but that |ustiIy subsidies due to their dramatic
public beneIts.
In many developing countries, small-scale bioenergy
pro|ects could Iace challenges obtaining Inance
Irom traditional Inancing institutions, as such
initiatives generally have a less Iavourable risk
rating compared to more well-established energy
technologies. Although these pro|ects could be
critical in providing modern energy services to
populations currently lacking access, they will likely
require an eIIective microcredit or other alternative
credit delivery mechanism to assist at all stages
plantation, oil extraction (in the case oI oil seeds},
conversion, distribution, and end-use. Iinancial
institutions with a network oI branches and
expertise in microcredit (e.g., Crameen 8anks} are
best qualiIed to IulIl this requirement; however,
they may perceive a high risk given the current
absence oI strong market and other linkages in
bioenergy development. As mentioned beIore,
this risk perception may need to be addressed
through policy and technical support measures
in the initial stages.
IN VANY UFvFLUPINC CUUN1RIFS, SVALL-SCALF
BIUFNFRCY PRU}FC1S CUULU IACF CEALLFNCFS
UB1AININC IINANCF IRUV 1RAUI1IUNAL
IINANCINC INS1I1U1IUNS...
Issue 1 - 4blty oj MoJern Boenergy to ProvJe Fnergy 5ervces jor the Poor
In cases where bioenergy development requires considerable investments, such as large-scale ethanol or pellet
production, appropriate Inancing mechanisms will be important. 8usinesses, companies, and communities
investing in the new technologies will need access to Inance, risk guarantees, and/or innovative mechanisms
such as microcredit or cooperative investing platIorms.
Hore broadly, there are diIIerent roles to be played by private banks (in physically providing the actual
loans or credits} and public banks (in hedging the risk or giving guarantees}. In the case oI Ioreign direct
investment, export credit agencies or multilateral banks could provide the guarantees, while in the case oI
domestic investments, banks with a national scope may be better poised to play a role.
UX 2.
P0lIC-PkIvA1f IhvfS1Hfh1 f0hu 1U kfu0Cf 6B6 fHISSIUhS Ih fCUhUHIfS
Ih 1kAhSI1IUh
5nce 1991, the Fnergy Fjcency 21 Project jFF21j hus workeJ to ucheve sustunuble Jeveloment
n the energy sector ut u regonul level. FF21's mun objectve s to ussst 5outheust Furoeun j5FFj
unJ Fustern Furoeun, Cuucusus, unJ Centrul 4sun jFFCC4j countres to enhunce ther energy
ejcency, Jmnsh juel overty, unJ meet nternutonul envronmentul treuty oblgutons unJer
the UN Irumework Conventon on Clmute Chunge unJ the UN Fconomc Commsson jor Furoe
jUNFCFj. FF21 jocuses on Jevelong the sklls oj rvute unJ ublc sector exerts ut the locul level
jor energy ejcency unJ renewuble energy nvestments.
4 new huse oj the roject wll rovJe jor u Publc-Prvute Purtnersh IunJ JeJcuteJ to nunc-
ng energy ejcency unJ renewuble energy nvestments n selecteJ UNFCF trunston economes.
The objectve s to jorm un energy-ejcency murket n 5FF unJ FFCC4 countres so thut cost-
ejjectve nvestments cun rovJe u selj-nuncng methoJ jor reJucng globul greenhouse gus
emssons. The roject s ntenJeJ to comlement other nuncng schemes unJ ntutves unJ
to hel urtcutng countres uJJress the nuncul, techncul, unJ olcy burrers to energy
ejcency unJ renewuble energy nvestments, ncluJng boenergy nvestments.
Section 3: Key Sustainability Issues
UX 3.
fIhAhCIh6 SHAll-SCAlf IUfhfk6 PkUu0C1IUh Ahu 0Sf Ih IhuIA
Fxerence n bojuel cro nuncng s very lmteJ n InJu. 4urt jrom technologcul nhbtons,
nuncers ure concerneJ ubout olseeJ suly rsks unJ return on nvestments, snce roJuctvty
s currently nconsstent. IunJ roJuctvty unJ ol yelJ ure mujor concerns oj bunkers rovJng
mcrocreJt to smull jurmers. Therejore, reseurch unJ Jeveloment exumnng techncul otons to
ncreuse the yelJ unJ reJuce roJucton volutlty s neeJeJ.
The erceveJ rsk oj cro julure meuns nuncers neeJ urorute mtguton meusures-jor
exumle, cro nsurunce, strong techncul ussurunces through uvulublty unJ use oj best cro
vuretes unJ ructces, unJ ussureJ murket lnkuges jsuch us lnkuges through contruct jurmng
jor bg buyersj.
UX 4.
A H0l1IPlIh6 HUufl Ih IU6AS ufvflUPHfh1
0ver the lust 13 yeurs, the 0utch-Neulese Bogus 5uort Progrumme hus nstulleJ more thun
120,000 bogus lunts n Neul, rovJng uroxmutely 3 ercent oj Neulese homes wth the ben-
ets oj juel jor lghtng unJ cookng us well us reJuceJ levels oj nJoor ur olluton. The rogrumme
s un excellent exumle oj how to scule u boenergy ulcutons. Moreover, becuuse roughly 72
ercent oj the bogus lunts connect to lutrnes, humun heulth rsks huve been reJuceJ unJ suntu-
ton mroveJ on u lurge scule.
Ths bogus rogrumme wus the rst oj ts tye to be recognseJ unJer the Kyoto Protocol's Cleun
0eveloment Mechunsm unJ hus snce truJeJ certeJ emsson reJuctons. Fuch oj the 120,000
oerutonul bogus lunts s worth junJs equvulent to 4.6 tons oj curbon JoxJe er yeur, or over
U5$18 u yeur buseJ on u mJ-runge rute oj U5$4 er ton n current curbon nunce murkets.
5nce 2003, 0utch-Vetnumese cooeruton hus bult on the jumous Neulese exerence by
mlementng u Bogus Progrumme jor Vetnum's unmul husbunJry sector. The rogrumme, whch
won un Fnergy 6lobe 4wurJ n 2006, hus bult uroxmutely 25,000 bogus lunts benetng more
thun 100,000 eole n 20 rovnces. The cooeruton ums to estublsh u commercully vuble
Jomestc bogus sector unJ jocuses on quulty ussurunce unJ the trunng oj enJ users, bogus
constructon teums, unJ techncuns.
Vetnumese householJs use the bogus jor cookng unJ use the bo-slurry resJues us cro jertlsers
unJ sh jeeJ. Heulth mrovements ncluJe reJuceJ nJoor ur olluton unJ oJour us well us
mroveJ lutrnes, suntuton, unJ stuble jucltes. In uJJton, the use oj bogus hus jreeJ
women unJ chlJren jrom burJens reluteJ to housework unJ rewooJ collecton whle ulso
reJucng Jejorestuton.
Section 3: Key Sustainability Issues
UX 7.
BflPIh6 SHAll 0SIhfSSfS PkUu0Cf IUf0flS fkUH A6kIC0l10kAl Ahu IUHASS
wAS1fS
The UN Fnvronment Progrumme's Rurul Fnergy Fnterrse 0eveloment Progrumme jRFF0j s
ojjerng enterrse Jeveloment servces unJ sturt-u nuncng to "cleun energy" enterrses n ve
4jrcun countres, Bruzl, unJ Chnu. 5nce 2000, RFF0 hus nunceJ 44 enterrses thut ure now
returnng cutul euch yeur to un nvestment junJ thut s then renvesteJ n new enterrses. These
nuncul returns ure mutcheJ-unJ n muny cuses exceeJeJ-by the non-nuncul returns oj
economc Jeveloment, envronmentul mrovement, unJ better uccess to moJern energy servces
jor oorly serveJ communtes. 4lthough quuntjyng these returns s Jjcult, un nterm evuluuton
oj non-nuncul mucts oj RFF0 nvestments wus Jone on eght RFF0 enterrses n 2004.
0ne oj the enterrses covereJ n the stuJy s the Tunzunu's Bomuss Fnergy Technology ImteJ
jBFTIj. The comuny coorJnutes the sourcng unJ suly oj ugrculturul unJ other bomuss wustes
us juel jor Tungu Cement Comuny ItJ. jTCCIj, u colluboruton thut Jsluces u to 15 ercent oj the
44,000 tonnes oj heuvy juel ol TCCI uses yeurly to rovJe heut jor ts cement klns. The substtuton
suves TCCI money, reJuces greenhouse gus emssons, unJ generutes u 43-ercent gross rot murgn
jor BFTI on monthly Jelveres oj u to 1,200 tonnes jut $40-$60 er tonnej.
Income jrom collectng unJ trunsortng bomuss hus been the most sgncunt socul muct oj
BFTI's uctvtes. Fuch tonne oj bomuss suleJ to TCCI ulso generutes ncome jor u locul rovJer oj
trunsort servces. 4t the comuny level, BFTI hus emloyeJ one new stujj member who s currently
unJergong rojessonul uccountuncy trunng. Women n urbun ureus eurn U5$60 u month collect-
ng 40 bugs oj churcoul resJues u Juy jor the wuste contructor useJ by BFTI. Ths s 25-ercent more
thun the mnmum wuge n Tunzunu unJ consttutes low-level job creuton wth u genune muct
on overty. Postve envronmentul mucts jrom BFTI oerutons ncluJe locul benets ursng jrom
u wuste Jsosul mechunsm unJ the globul benet oj reJuceJ greenhouse gus emssons thut woulJ
otherwse be roJuceJ jrom the combuston oj heuvy juel ol ut the cement rocessng juclty.
Section 3: Key Sustainability Issues
A
s discussed in the previous chapters, the
bioenergy Ield, with its varying biomass
sources, conversion technologies, and
contexts (ecological, social, and institutional}, is
complex and requires a range oI criteria and
approaches. 8ut this complexity should not restrain
action. 1he movement towards more sustainable
energy systems that draw Irom all potential
renewable sources, including bioenergy, is a
matter oI urgency.
uver-generalising about the Iuture oI bioenergy
would be both Iutile and disrespectIul to readers, in
particular decision-makers. 1his concluding section
does not attempt to provide prescriptive actions,
but rather to point to key areas that merit attention
at the national and international levels. It suggests
a Iramework Ior decision-makers to encourage the
sustainable production and use oI modern bioen-
ergy in order to achieve maximum beneIts to the
poor and to the environment.
8ecause the point oI convergence oI the work oI
uh-Fnergy members is at the country level, this
chapter Iocuses Irst at the national level, with the
understanding that national actions have global
impact. 1he chapter then addresses action at the
international level, since uh-Fnergy recognises
the importance oI international eIIorts such as the
CSu and is aware oI the potential global impact oI
bioenergy.
hA1IUhAl lfvfl
At the national level, knowledge and policies are key
in providing and sustaining a solid base Ior action in
the bioenergy Ield. 1he Iollowing points are critical:
knowIedge
kesource 8ase: 1o be in a position to develop
bioenergy actions and programmes, it is critical to
understand the potential oI biomass energy in a
particular country or region. 1his is not an easy task,
however, as it involves envisioning Iuture agronomic
opportunities, agricultural practices, and conversion
technologies. while some assessment methodologies
are available, others are being developed that allow
Ior a clearer vision oI the type and scale oI Ieedstock
at hand. Key areas oI knowledge include:
Currcnt produrtion oj agrirultural produrts witl
biocncrgy potcntial, as wcll as asscssmcnt oj
possiblc cncrgy usc and cxpansion oj produrtion;
Currcnt land uscs, obtaincd witl tlc lclp oj
survcys, mapping, and 6l5;
Produrtion potcntial in rclabilitatcd marginal
and dcgradcd lands;
/ltcrnativc uscs oj jccdstorl as wcll as rurrcnt
dcmand and uscs oj agrirultural and jorcstry
rcsiducs and byprodurts; and
/vailability oj watcr and otlcr rcsourrcs.
1echnoIogies: uetermining the best bioenergy
production, conversion, and utilization technologies
is complex (and potentially increasingly restricted
inIormation}. 8uilding a national research and
technical capacity can save expensive imported
knowledge, and collaboration among countries
can bridge inIormation gaps. Key areas oI
knowledge include:
/vailability and arrcssibility oj modcrn
tcrlnologics jor biocncrgy ronvcrsion and usc;
Lijcryrlc analysis mctlodology and tools to
asscss biocncrgy systcms, inrluding tlcir
cronomirs, cncrgy balanrc, rarbon ows, and
lcalagc cjjcrts.
Section 4: Looking Iorward
xxiii Ibid.
xxiv 1heodor Iriedrich, Crop and Crassland Service (ACPC},
uh Iood and Agriculture urganization (IAu}, reviewer
comments, 13 }anuary 2007.
xxv worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note xix.
xxvi Ibid.
xxvii Ibid.
xxviii Kevin A. 8aumert, 1imothy Eerzog, and }onathan
Pershing, Navigating tlc Numbcrs: 6h6 0ata and Climatc
Poliry (washington, uC: wkI, 2005}; Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, working Croup III, lPCC Ilird
/sscssmcnt kcport, Climatc Clangc 2001: Hitigation
(Cambridge: Cambridge university Press, 2001}.
xxix worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note xix.
xxx H.A. Flsayed, k. Hatthews, and h.u. Hortimer,
"Carbon and Fnergy 8alances Ior a kange oI 8ioIuels
uptions," prepared Ior uK uepartment oI 1rade and
Industry Sustainable Fnergy Programmes (London: Harch
2003}; worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note xix.
xxxi v. uornburg and A.P.C. Iaai|, "Cost and Cu
2
-Fmission
keduction oI 8iomass Cascading: Hethodological Aspects
and Case Study oI SkI Poplar," Climatir Clangc, August
2005.
xxxii worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note xix.
xxxiii Ibid; L. Iulton et al., 8iojucls jor Iransport: /n
lntcrnational Pcrspcrtivc (Paris: International Fnergy
Agency, 2004}.
xxxiv H. Ko|ima and 1. }ohnson, Potcntial jor 8iojucls jor
Iransport in 0cvcloping Countrics (washington, uC: world
8ank FSHAP, uctober 2005}.
xxxv worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note xix.
xxxvi Ibid.
xxxvii Ibid.
xxxviii Iriedrich, op. cit. note xxiv.
xxxix uhC1Au uivision on International 1rade
and Commodities (uI1C}, 1rade, Fnvironment and
uevelopment 8ranch (1Fu}, Ilc Lmcrging 8iojucls Harlct:
kcgulatory, Iradc and 0cvclopmcnt lmplirations (hew
ork and Ceneva: 2006}.
Section 5: Source Haterial and
Iurther keading
hotes
hotes
61 61
UN-Energy
uNLncrgy is tlc prinripal intcragcnry mcrlanism in tlc cld oj cncrgy tlat lclps cnsurc (a
rolcrcnrc in tlc uN systcm's multidisriplinary rcsponsc to w550; and (b rollcrtivc cngagcmcnt
on nonuN stalcloldcrs.
1he Iollowing agencies, programmes and organizations
constitute the membership oI uh-Fnergy:
Fconomic Commission Ior AIrica ................................................................. www.uneca.org
Fconomic Commission Ior Furope ............................................................... www.unece.org
Fconomic Commission Ior Latin America and the Caribbean .......................... www.eclac.cl
Fconomic and Social Commission Ior Asia and the PaciIc ....................... www.unescap.org
Fconomic and Social Commission Ior western Asia ................................. www.escwa.org.lb
Iood and Agriculture urganization oI the united hations ............................... www.Iao.org
International Atomic Fnergy Agency ............................................................... www.iaea.org
united hations Euman Settlements Programme (EA8I1A1} .................. www.unhabitat.org
united hations ConIerence on 1rade and uevelopment ............................ www.unctad.org
united hations uevelopment Programme .................................................... www.undp.org
united hations Fducational, ScientiIc and Cultural urganization ............. www.unesco.org
united hations Fnvironment Programme ..................................................... www.unep.org
united hations Iramework Convention on Climate Change ........................ www.unIccc.int
united hations Industrial uevelopment urganization ................................. www.unido.org
united hations International kesearch and 1raining Institute
Ior the Advancement oI women (IhS1kAw} .........................................www. un-instraw.org
world Eealth urganization .............................................................................www.who.org
world Heteorological urganization ................................................................ www.wmo.ch
world 8ank .......................................................................................... www.worldbank.org
uepartment oI Fconomic and Social AIIairs ................................................ www.un.org/esa
ChieI Fxecutives 8oard Secretariat ............................................................ ceb.unsystem.org