Towards sustainable production and use of resources: Assessing Biofuels

Biofuels have received much attention from decision-makers in government and industry, and of the wider public world-wide. As the number of publications devoted to this renewable source of energy is expanding rapidly, it has become increasingly difficult for decision-makers to identify the key messages on which to build their decisions. The International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management (IPSRM) is responding to this challenge with its first assessment report Towards sustainable production and use of resources: Assessing Biofuels.

This report is the result of extensive literature examination and a thorough review process, involving a number of experts, to provide a robust assessment of key problems of production and use of biomass for energy purposes and options for more efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass.

The focus is on so-called first generation biofuels, due to availability of state-of-the art reviews, but also considers further lines of development.

It takes a global perspective, recognizing regional and local differences.

UNEP's Resource Panel launches first assessment report on Biofuels

Background

The International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management was established to provide independent, coherent and authoritative scientific assessments of policy relevance on the sustainable use of natural resources and in particular their environmental impacts over the full life cycle. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of how to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The report Towards Sustainable Production and Use of Resources: Assessing Biofuels is part of a series of reports on a variety of topics.

Scope

Assessing Biofuels is based on an extensive literature study, taking into account recent major reviews, and considering a wide range of different views from eminent experts worldwide. It provides an overview of the key problems and perspectives towards sustainable production and use of biomass for energy purposes. In particular, the report examines options for more efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass. In the overall context of enhancing resource productivity, it addresses "modern biomass use" for energetic purposes, such as biomass used for (co-) generation of heat and power and liquid biofuels for transport, and relates it to the use of biomass for food and material purposes. Whereas improving the efficiency of biomass production plays a certain role towards enhancing sustainability, progress will ultimately depend on a more efficient use of biotic (and abiotic) resources (including for instance, an increased fuel economy of car fleets), although a full consideration of all relevant strategies towards this end (e.g. changing diets high in animal based foods and reducing food losses) is beyond the scope of this report.

This report mainly covers so-called first generation biofuels while considering also further lines of development. This is due to state-of-the-art and data availability until the end of 2008. Potential benefits and impacts of second and third generation biofuels - preferably referred to as 'advanced biofuels' - are partially included, and might be subject to a specific report at a later stage. This report focuses on the global situation, recognising regional differences. Finally, the report marks uncertainties and highlights needs for research and development. The key question that occurred is whether significant expansion of biofuel production is 'too much of a good thing'.

Key findings of the assessment report

Putting biofuels development into a broader perspective of resource efficiency, the report examines the interaction of biofuel production with a number of global trends, including population growth, changing nutrition patterns, yield improvements and climate change. The key findings of the report are as follows:

• Bioenergy, so far largely in the form of traditional use of biomass, is part of the energy mix.
• Long term sustainability of the bioenergy sector can only be achieved with sound policies and planning that take into consideration a range of global trends, including population growth, yield improvements, changing diet patterns and climate change.
• Biofuels may make a difference in terms of achieving the different policy objectives pursued. However, not all biofuels perform equally well in terms of their impact on climate, energy security, and on ecosystems. Environmental and social impacts need to be assessed throughout the entire life-cycle.
• As future global biofuel demand is expected to increase, so is the demand on land. Land conversion for biofuel crops can lead to negative environmental impacts including implications such as reduced biodiversity and increased GHG emissions.
• Water is another limiting factor, both in terms of quality and quantity.
• There are avenues available to create more efficient and sustainable production of biomass, and thereby reduce environmental pressures.
• Sustainable biofuel production can occur when strategies are implemented to increase resource productivity. Certain measures can reduce environmental pressures on natural resources and provide social benefits.

Biofuels report launch event

11.00, Friday, 16 October, 2009
UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya, ED's Boardroom
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner will join Steering Committee Co-Chair Timo Makela, European Commission, to the launch of the first assessment report of the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Chair of the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, and Stefan Bringezu, the Lead Author of the report, will join in through a climate friendly video conference link.

Biofuels Assessment Report documents

Press release (English)
Flyer (English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic)
Summary (English, French, Spanish)
Full report
Presentation