In view of the many risks and opportunities that bioenergy represents, the experts invited to participate in the IRGC workshop on Risk Governance Guidelines for Bioenergy Policies (25-26 February 2008) have sought an appropriate balance between :
scientific data (and uncertainty of the knowledge in many cases) ;
policy options (including policies already in place) ; and
possible regulatory approaches
The experts considered the many problems linked to the biased and unsustainable development of liquid biofuels as well as the many opportunities associated with the small-scale development of bioenergy production facilities. At a local scale and in specific situations, these can provide numerous prospects for local and rural development, particularly with regard to meeting energy needs in developing countries. While IRGC has endeavoured to avoid the current political debate surrounding biofuels, the experts noted the widespread growing concerns about the current development of large scale production of bioethanol and biodiesel. In particular, the current policies (and economic incentives that accompany them) do not enable a balanced resolution of the trade-offs that need to be made between :
• biomass for fuel versus food ;
• energy security and independence versus climate change mitigation ;
• different uses of land, with direct and indirect impact on GHG emissions, soil degradation and water resources ; and
• local, regional and global needs.
In view of the complexity of the issue, the members of the project’s Advisory Board have discussed and agreed that IRGC would propose policy options, with clear-cut targets, summarised as follows :
• Industrialised countries and major exporters of bioenergy among developing countries should encourage the development of bioenergy only where it can be demonstrated that doing so will reduce GHG emissions throughout the entire life-cycle ;
• Other developing countries and countries with economies in transition should primarily develop bioenergy that benefits local livelihoods through the provision of affordable, safe and more efficient heat, electricity and fuel for transportation, and to support wider sustainable development goals that do not, in doing so, jeopardise food security.
IRGC hopes that its proposed practical risk governance guidelines will help in the avoidance of major risk governance deficits in bioenergy policies and practices. It also hopes that future public policies will emphasize :
• market-oriented approaches, to reduce existing distortions in liquid biofuel and agricultural markets ;
• environmental sustainability, protecting land and water resources from depletion and environmental damage ;
• adaptive regulation, production and behaviour, to allow rapid improvements in the economic and physical efficiencies in the production and conversion processes ; and
• priority given to economic concerns for developing countries, with a focus on food and energy needs.
Other information on the workshop can be found in :
IRGC’s Message on Risk Governance Guidelines for Bioenergy Policies
Policy Brief on Risk Governance Guidelines for Bioenergy Policies (to be published in August 2008)