Applying a science-based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy
Review article, 2021
The scientific literature contains contrasting findings about the climate effects of forest bioenergy, partly due to the wide diversity of bioenergy systems and associated contexts, but also due to differences in assessment methods. The climate effects of bioenergy must be accurately assessed to inform policy-making, but the complexity of bioenergy systems and associated land, industry and energy systems raises challenges for assessment. We examine misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy and discuss important considerations in assessing these effects and devising measures to incentivize sustainable bioenergy as a component of climate policy. The temporal and spatial system boundary and the reference (counterfactual) scenarios are key methodology choices that strongly influence results. Focussing on carbon balances of individual forest stands and comparing emissions at the point of combustion neglect system-level interactions that influence the climate effects of forest bioenergy. We highlight the need for a systems approach, in assessing options and developing policy for forest bioenergy that: (1) considers the whole life cycle of bioenergy systems, including effects of the associated forest management and harvesting on landscape carbon balances; (2) identifies how forest bioenergy can best be deployed to support energy system transformation required to achieve climate goals; and (3) incentivizes those forest bioenergy systems that augment the mitigation value of the forest sector as a whole. Emphasis on short-term emissions reduction targets can lead to decisions that make medium- to long-term climate goals more difficult to achieve. The most important climate change mitigation measure is the transformation of energy, industry and transport systems so that fossil carbon remains underground. Narrow perspectives obscure the significant role that bioenergy can play by displacing fossil fuels now, and supporting energy system transition. Greater transparency and consistency is needed in greenhouse gas reporting and accounting related to bioenergy.
forest carbon stock
landscape scale
reference system
greenhouse gas accounting
forest management
energy system transition
Author
Annette Cowie
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Göran Berndes
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory
N. S. Bentsen
University of Copenhagen
M. Brandao
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
F. Cherubini
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Gustaf Egnell
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Brendan George
NSW Department of Primary Industries
L. Gustavsson
Linnaeus University
Marc Hanewinkel
University of Freiburg
Zoe M. Harris
University of Surrey
Imperial College London
Filip Johnsson
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology
Martin Junginger
Utrecht University
K. L. Kline
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Kati Koponen
Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)
Jaap Koppejan
ProBiomass
Florian Kraxner
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
P. Lamers
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Stefan Majer
German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ)
Eric Marland
Appalachian State University
Gert Jan Nabuurs
Wageningen University and Research
Luc Pelkmans
IEA Bioenergy
Roger Sathre
Linnaeus University
M. Schaub
Eidgenossische Forschungsanstalt fur Wald, Schnee Und Landschaft Eth-Bereichs
C T Smith
University of Toronto
Sampo Soimakallio
Finnish Environment Institute
Floor Van Der Hilst
Utrecht University
J. Woods
Imperial College London
F. Ximenes
NSW Department of Primary Industries
GCB Bioenergy
1757-1693 (ISSN) 1757-1707 (eISSN)
Vol. 13 8 1210-1231Subject Categories
Other Environmental Engineering
Environmental Management
Energy Systems
DOI
10.1111/gcbb.12844