Applying a science-based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy
Reviewartikel, 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
Författare
Annette Cowie
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Göran Berndes
Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Fysisk resursteori
N. S. Bentsen
Köpenhamns universitet
M. Brandao
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)
F. Cherubini
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Gustaf Egnell
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU)
Brendan George
NSW Department of Primary Industries
L. Gustavsson
Linnéuniversitetet
Marc Hanewinkel
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Zoe M. Harris
University of Surrey
Imperial College London
Filip Johnsson
Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Energiteknik
Martin Junginger
Universiteit Utrecht
K. L. Kline
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Kati Koponen
Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus (VTT)
Jaap Koppejan
ProBiomass
Florian Kraxner
Internationales Institut fuer Angewandte Systemanalyse
P. Lamers
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Stefan Majer
Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ)
Eric Marland
Appalachian State University
Gert Jan Nabuurs
Wageningen University and Research
Luc Pelkmans
IEA Bioenergy
Roger Sathre
Linnéuniversitetet
M. Schaub
Eidgenossische Forschungsanstalt fur Wald, Schnee Und Landschaft Eth-Bereichs
C T Smith
University of Toronto
Sampo Soimakallio
Suomen ympäristökeskus SYKE
Floor Van Der Hilst
Universiteit Utrecht
J. Woods
Imperial College London
F. Ximenes
NSW Department of Primary Industries
GCB Bioenergy
1757-1693 (ISSN) 1757-1707 (eISSN)
Vol. 13 8 1210-1231Ämneskategorier
Annan naturresursteknik
Miljöledning
Energisystem
DOI
10.1111/gcbb.12844