Synopses & Reviews
Because of the major opportunities and risks associated with it, and the complexity of the subject, bioenergy policy has in a short time become a challenging political task for regulators and planners - a task that can only be accomplished through worldwide cooperation and the creation of an international framework. WBGU's central message is that the sustainable potential of bioenergy, which can be tapped all over the world, should be utilized - provided that threats to sustainability are avoided. In particular, the use of bioenergy must not endanger food security or the goals of nature conservation and climate change mitigation.
Synopsis
The bioenergy boom of recent years has polarized opinion: while supporters claim that bioenergy can help to secure energy supply, mitigate climate change and create development opportunities, its critics maintain that the production of bioenergy crops will heighten land use conflicts as food cultivation, nature conservation and bioenergy production compete for land.The central message of Future Bioenergy and Sustainable Land Use is that use should be made of the sustainable potential of bioenergy, which can be tapped all over the world, provided that risks to sustainability are excluded. However, this aim will require considerable international co-operation and co-ordination to ensure that the use of bioenergy does not endanger food security or the goals of nature conservation and climate change mitigation. The report thus presents an integrated vision that will provide policy-makers with clear guidance for the deployment of bioenergy.