BIOEN
Press Release Versão em português
Global Sustainable Bioenergy Project Launched
22 July, 2009
Scientists from around the world have joined forces to seek resolution of issues related to sustainable production of energy from biomass. In response to the substantial confusion and uncertainty about whether the world should look to bioenergy (biofuels and electricity) to play a prominent role in the future, a three-stage project has been initiated entitled Global Sustainable Bioenergy: Feasibility and Implementation Paths.
The first stage of the project will consist of meetings held at five locations around the world beginning in November, 2009 in Malaysia, followed by meetings in the first half of 2010 in the Netherlands, South Africa, Brazil, and the U.S. The second stage will address the question: Is it physically possible to meet a substantial fraction of future world mobility and/or electricity demand from plant sources while our global society also meets other important needs, including feeding humanity, habitat preservation, and maintaining environmental quality? The third stage will address implementation paths including technical, social, economic, political and ethical issues, aiming to develop policies and strategies for a responsible transition to a sustainable, world-wide bio-based society.
The GSB project is led by a three person steering committee of Nathanael Greene of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Tom Richard of Pennsylvania State University, and Lee Lynd of the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College and Mascoma Corporation. The five stage 1 meetings will be overseen by an 11-person organizing committee with broad representation from academic, environmental advocacy, and research institutions around the world.
In a commentary appearing recently in Issues in Science and Technology (www.issues.org/25.4/forum.html), GSB steering committee chair Lynd comments on behalf of the stage 1 organizing committee: "While there is a natural reluctance to consider change, we must do so since humanity cannot expect to achieve a sustainable and secure future by continuing the practices that have resulted in the unsustainable and insecure present." The commentary continues "Most analyses involving biofuels ... have been undertaken within a largely business-as-usual context. In particular, none have explored in any detail on a global scale what could be achieved via complementary changes fostering graceful coexistence of food and biofuel production."
Quotes from members of the stage 1 Organizing Committee (many of which were included in releases to local media):
Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, FAPESP, Brazil: "Biofuels have been fundamental in eliminating Brazil's dependence on foreign oil and in reducing emissions from vehicles. Last year Brazil used a volume of ethanol from sugarcane larger than the volume of gasoline and 95% of the new cars sold in the country are flex. Sugarcane ethanol helps Brazil to have almost half of its energy coming from renewable sources. Can this experience be replicated in other countries? This study will create knowledge to address this issue in a science based way."
Jon Foley, University of Minnesota: "The world now clearly faces the challenges of simultaneously addressing energy security, food security and environmental sustainability. Whether motivated by concerns of climate change, population growth, environmental quality, biodiversity conservation, national security, or economic development, we must solve these problems together – on a global scale – within the next generation. To do this, a wholly different approach is needed – one that steps back to the global scale, and re-imagines the way we do everything, including the ways we manage our land, agriculture and energy systems. Only with bold new approaches can we take the promise of bioenergy, tempered by the concerns of the environment and food security, and solve these grand challenges. A new world – with robust and sustainable food, energy and environmental systems – is possible. But we will need every ounce of scientific know-how and creativity to get us there. My hope is that this exciting project will be the first step in that direction."
Nathanael Greene, NRDC: "We know that gallon by gallon, biofuels can be done right or they can be done wrong, but to get a sense of how big a role biofuels could play given all the other major challenges we face, we need to step back and look globally. Our challenges are all interrelated, and we need to address them with integrated analysis and solutions."
Lee Lynd, Dartmouth: "A key focus of our project is to look at future scenarios that are not continuous with current trends. Such scenarios are, by definition, improbable today. However, currently improbable futures are exactly what is needed, since we cannot expect to achieve a sustainable and secure world by continuing the practices that have resulted in the unsustainable and insecure present. By showing that bioenergy-intensive futures that honor other important priorities are physically possible on a global scale, it is my hope that the GSB project will motivate and inform action toward this end."
Reinhold Mann, Battelle Malaysia: "Development of energy sources in the past have not always included considerations of sustainability due to pressures to meet immediate needs or to satisfy other social, economic, or political requirements. Bioenergy must conform to a higher standard, and will be expected to avoid negative impacts on the environment and society. In fact, if implemented in the right manner, many environmental, economic and societal benefits can be realized. Energy demand in Asia is growing rapidly and this planned global dialogue will help us meet the need for bioenergy in a sustainable manner."
Tom Richard, Penn State: "There are tremendous opportunities to integrate biomass production with food crops and forest management to enhance both economic and environmental outcomes. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Commission have championed the production of next-generation cellulosic biofuel crops as a way to improve soil and water quality and enhance rural development. Penn State has been playing a leading role in analyzing that potential in our region, and with this new project we look forward to addressing the challenges and opportunities for bioenergy production in a global context."
Emile van Zyl, University of Stellenbosch, and August Temu, World Agroforestry Centre: "Africa is probably the continent with the greatest potential for bioenergy/biofuel production, yet the effectiveness of current activities is limited by often uncoordinated and ill-informed projects that either focus on food crops or use poorly researched alternatives. On top of this, weak political commitment and lack of overarching policy frameworks leaves Africa vulnerable to potential exploitation from abroad as has occurred with other resources in the past. A scientific and well-coordinated project such as GSB can unveil Africa's true potential as a bioenergy provider. The project can help bioenergy to become an important strategic partner to the agriculture and forestry sectors. It addresses food security and environmental quality as well as economic wealth creation for the larger population. August Temu and I look forward to welcoming attendees from Africa and the world to discuss the rightful role of bioenergy and biofuels for the continent."