Future Bioenergy and Sustainable Land Use

Description

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.

The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) comprises 9 leading experts working on issues of global environmental change.

'The new WBGU report shows that a sustainable use of bioenergy is possible and outlines how opportunities can be exploited while at the same time minimizing risks.' Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Environment Programme 'Biofuels have been represented by some as a silver bullet to the climate change threat, and by others as a fatal mistake set to destroy forests and increase hunger; they are neither. Sane and sensibly developed they offer a chance to reduce emissions, generate employment and diversify rural livelihoods. But widespread commercialisation without proper sustainability standards could prove a disaster, causing more environmental and human harm than good. The new WBGU report shows that a sustainable use of bioenergy is possible and outlines how opportunities can be exploited while at the same time minimizing risks.' Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UN Environment Programme 'Occasionally a review book lands on the desk that you know is going to become a constant source of reference.One that you will find yourself referring to again and again. Five stars.' En-Agri '...anybody interested in the future of the human race should read this volume.' Green Energy Magazine 'I liked this book because it is a multi-disciplinary approach to the problem...it gives an overview of the bioenergy and land use questions from the point of view of a large range of specialists related to this issue.' Nicolas Marron, Annals of Forest Science. '...the book provides an excellent resource for those working in this area and for students of environmental technology, in addition to providing thought-provoking material for policy makers.' Elaine Booth, Experimental Agriculture 'this large and detailed report examines the issues surrounding bioenergy from a global perspective and demonstrates how the sustainable use of bioenergy can help minimize risks to food security, nature conservation and climate change.' Unasylva 'Excellent resource for those working in this area' Elaine Booth, Journal of Experimental Agriculture