Biofuels and Sustainable Development Henry Lee John F
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Sustainability, Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility ISO Definitions and Terminology
Sustainability, sustainable development and social responsibility ISO definitions and terminology International Organization for Standardization ISO in brief ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. ISO has a membership of 163 national standards bodies from countries large and small, industrialized, developing and in transition, in all regions of the world. ISO’s portfolio of over 19 100 standards provides business, government and society with practical tools for all three dimensions of sustainable development : economic, environmental and social. The achievement of sustainability is now recognized as the most ISO standards make a positive contribution to the world we live fundamental requirement in every human endeavour and activity. Our in. They facilitate trade, spread knowledge, disseminate innovative failure to effectively address sustainability has led to a deterioration advances in technology, and share good management and conformity in our environmental, social and economic well being. Sustainability assessment practices. refers to the state of the global system in which the needs of the ISO standards provide solutions and achieve benefits for almost present are met without compromising the ability of future genera- all sectors of activity, including agriculture, construction, mechani- tions to meet their own needs and is continually evolving. Achieving cal engineering, manufacturing, distribution, transport, healthcare, a balance between environmental, social and economic systems is information and communication technologies, the environment, energy, considered essential for achieving sustainability. safety and security, quality management, and services. The notion of sustainable development is based on the Rio ISO only develops standards for which there is a clear market Declaration and it encompasses the concepts of intergenerational requirement. -
Advanced Biofuel Policies in Select Eu Member States: 2018 Update
© INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION POLICY UPDATE NOVEMBER 2018 ADVANCED BIOFUEL POLICIES IN SELECT EU MEMBER STATES: 2018 UPDATE This policy update provides details on the latest measures that select European ICCT POLICY UPDATES Union (EU) member states, namely Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, SUMMARIZE Sweden, and the United Kingdom, are taking to support advanced alternative fuels. REGULATORY AND OTHER EU POLICY BACKGROUND DEVELOPMENTS In 2018, the European Union (EU) set its climate and energy objectives for 2030. RELATED TO CLEAN They included a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of at least 40% and a minimum of a TRANSPORTATION 32% share of renewable energy consumption across all sectors.1 GHG emissions in the WORLDWIDE. European transportation sector have declined by only 3.8% since 2008, compared to an 18% decrease, or more, in all other sectors, indicating that the decarbonization of transportation should be a priority for the future.2 Biofuels are one of the options considered to increase renewable energy and decrease the carbon intensity of the transportation sector. Through the use of directives and national legislation, the EU has incentivized both the adoption of conventional food-based biofuels and advanced biofuels, which are made from non-food feedstocks. Such incentives date to 2009, when the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) mandated that by 2020, 10% of energy used in the transportation sector should come from renewable energy sources (RES).3 In 2015, the RED was 1 Jacopo Giuntoli, Final recast Renewable Energy Directive for 2021-2030 in the European Union, (ICCT: Washington, DC, 2018), https://www.theicct.org/publications/final-recast-renewable-energy-directive- 2021-2030-european-union 2 EUROSTAT (Greenhouse gas emissions by source sector (env_air_gge), accessed November 2018), https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat. -
Sustainable Biofuel Contributions to Carbon Mitigation and Energy Independence
Forests 2011, 2, 861-874; doi:10.3390/f2040861 OPEN ACCESS forests ISSN 1999-4907 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests Article Sustainable Biofuel Contributions to Carbon Mitigation and Energy Independence Bruce Lippke 1,*, Richard Gustafson 1, Richard Venditti 2, Timothy Volk 3, Elaine Oneil 1, Leonard Johnson 4, Maureen Puettmann 5 and Phillip Steele 6 1 Anderson Hall, Room 107, School of Forest Resources, College of Environment, University of Washington, P.O. Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (R.G.); [email protected] (E.O.) 2 Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, 2820 Faucette Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 3 Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 4 Leonard Johnson and Associates, 1205 Kamiaken, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 5 WoodLife Environmental Consultants, LLC, 8200 NW Chaparral Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 6 Forest Products, Building 1, Room 1201, Department of Forest Products, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 9820, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9820, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-206-543-8684; Fax: +1-206-685-0790. Received: 17 August 2011; in revised form: 25 September 2011 / Accepted: 27 September 2011 / Published: 19 October 2011 Abstract: The growing interest in US biofuels has been motivated by two primary national policy goals, (1) to reduce carbon emissions and (2) to achieve energy independence. -
Biofuel Sustainability Performance Guidelines (PDF)
JULY 2014 NRDC REPORT R:14-04-A Biofuel Sustainability Performance Guidelines Report prepared for the Natural Resources Defense Council by LMI Acknowledgments NRDC thanks the Packard Foundation and the Energy Foundation for the generous contributions that made this report possible. NRDC acknowledges the role of LMI in preparing this report and thanks LMI for its impartial insights and key role in its analysis, design and production. LMI is a McLean, Va.-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit government management consultancy. About NRDC The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC. NRDC’s policy publications aim to inform and influence solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental and public health issues. For additional policy content, visit our online policy portal at www.nrdc.org/policy. NRDC Director of Communications: Lisa Benenson NRDC Deputy Director of Communications: Lisa Goffredi NRDC Policy Publications Director: Alex Kennaugh Design and Production: www.suerossi.com © Natural Resources Defense Council 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................4 -
Biofuels in a Changing World
Biofuels in a Changing World Carol Werner, Executive Director Environmental and Energy Study Institute Presentation for Biofuels and the Promise for Sustainable Energy Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 2007 Abstract : The twin drivers of oil security and climate change have pushed biofuels into the forefront of US national energy policy. The industry has grown rapidly, and at this point is based upon corn ethanol and soy biodiesel. A variety of policy proposals are before the US Congress in terms of major pending energy and agriculture legislation which would greatly advance the role of biofuels. At the same time concerns have been raised about the cost of such proposals, the sustainability of biofuel production, potential competition with food, animal feed and other crops as well as land use issues. Biofuels represent an important piece of the solution to the challenges of a world facing climate change and oil security concerns – but are not a silver bullet. Instead, they must be part of a ‘sustainable’ strategy that works in tandem with other policies that will allow us to address multiple issues to achieve multiple benefits at the same time. Key elements that must be addressed include diversification of feedstocks that are appropriate to given regions based upon local soil, precipitation, low inputs and climate conditions; encouragement of local ownership so that local economic activity is enhanced; and development of new technologies and biorefineries that will promote high efficiency and a low/no net carbon emission life cycle. Without addressing these issues carefully and thoughtfully – whether in the United States, Brazil or other countries moving forward on biofuels – we run the risk of jeopardizing public consensus for long-term support of biofuels as well as jeopardizing the long term environmentally sustainable economic development that is critical to the well-being of our societies and our planet. -
Brazil Will Host of the Global Celebrations of World Environment
Brazil will Host of the Global Brazil, China and the United States, recycling in all its forms, already employed twelve million people. Celebrations of World Environment Day Brazil is also a leader in the sustainable production of ethanol as a fuel for vehicles and is expanding into other The United Nations forms of renewable energy like wind and solar. Recently, Environment Programme the construction of 500 thousand new homes with solar (UNEP) announced today panel installations in Brazil has generated 300 thousand that Brazil, who owns one new jobs. of the fastest growing "We are delighted to host the global celebrations for the economies in the world, environment. The World Environment Day in Brazil will will host the global be a great opportunity to present the environmental celebrations of World Environment Day (WED) , aspects of Sustainable Development in the weeks leading celebrated annually on June 5. up to Rio +20 Conferences," said the Minister of the This year's theme, " Green Economy: It includes you?" environment of Brazil, Izabella Teixeira. invites the world to assess where the "Green Economy" "The history of Brazil, with its complex dynamics and is the day to day life of each one and estimate if the diverse economy, its wealth of natural resources and its development, by the Green Economy way, covers the current role in international relations, offers a unique social, economic and environment needs in a world with perspective through which a large and result transformer 7 billion people, which expected to reach 9 billion 2050. will become possible in the Rio +20 "added Mr. -
People and the Planet: Lessons for a Sustainable Future. INSTITUTION Zero Population Growth, Inc., Washington, D.C
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 409 188 SE 060 352 AUTHOR Wasserman, Pamela, Ed. TITLE People and the Planet: Lessons for a Sustainable Future. INSTITUTION Zero Population Growth, Inc., Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-945219-12-1 PUB DATE 96 NOTE 210p. AVAILABLE FROM Zero Population Growth, Inc., 1400 16th Street N.W., Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036, e-mail: [email protected] PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Conservation (Environment); Elementary Secondary Education; *Environmental Education; Natural Resources; Pollution; Population Trends; Sustainable Development; Teaching Guides IDENTIFIERS *Environmental Action; Environmental Awareness ABSTRACT This activity guide is designed to develop students' understanding of the interdependence of people and the environment as well as the interdependence connecting members of the global family. It is both an environmental education curriculum and a global studies resource suitable for middle school science, social studies, math, language arts, and family life education classrooms. The readings and activities contained in this book are designed to broaden students' knowledge of trends and connections among population change, natural resource use, global economics, gender equity, and community health. This knowledge combined with the critical thinking skills developed in each activity will help students explore their roles as global citizens and environmental stewards. The book is divided into four parts: (1) Understanding Population Dynamics;(2) People, Resources, and the Environment; (3) Issues for the Global Family; and (4) You and Your Community. Also included is a list of activities grouped by themes including air/water pollution and climate change, carrying capacity, environmental and social ethics, family size decisions, future studies, land use issues, natural resource use, population dynamics and trends, resource distribution/inequities, solid waste management, and sustainability. -
Ethanol and the Environment: Delivering on the Promise of a Sustainable Biofuel by Nathanael Greene*
Ethanol and the Environment: Delivering on the Promise of a Sustainable Biofuel By Nathanael Greene* Introduction The United States has just 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves, and domestic production has been declining since 1970. Demand is soaring–driven largely by the transportation sector, which is 97 per- cent reliant on oil. As a result, we are forced to import 60 percent of our oil, and by 2025, we will import nearly 70 percent. Our depen- dence funnels billions of dollars to shaky and hostile regions, and defense and foreign policy experts increasingly point to our oil addiction as a national security emergency. In addition America’s cars, trucks, and buses account for 27 per- cent of U.S. global warming pollution, as well as soot and smog that damage human lungs, and oil price spikes have preceded each of the major recessions over the last 30 years. Oil is the Achilles’ heel of America’s security and economy and threatens the environment we want to leave to our children. Biofuels, especially ethanol derived from the cellulosic part of plants rather than just the starch, are the most promising alternative fuels for the transportation sector. Replacing oil with biofuels would allow us to reinvest billions of dollars in our factories and farms. If we start now on an aggressive plan to develop and deploy advanced biofuels by 2050: * Nathanael Greene is Senior Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. 43 A HIGH GROWTH STRATEGY FOR ETHANOL • Cellulosic biofuels can displace nearly 8 million barrels of oil per day—nearly equal to all of the oil used by light-duty vehicles today; • Biofuels can be second only to vehicle fuel economy improve- ments in the amount of oil they save; • Biofuels, vehicle efficiency, and smart growth could eliminate virtually all our demand for gasoline; and • Biofuels could reduce global warming pollution by 1.7 billion tons per year—22 percent of total U.S. -
Sustainability$Criteria$For$ Biofuels$Made$From$Land$And
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! May$2016$ ! Sustainability$criteria$for$ biofuels$made$from$land$and$ non8land$based$feedstocks$ ! ! By:! Ben$Allen$ David$Baldock$ Silvia$Nanni$ Catherine$Bowyer$ ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Funded!by! ! Disclaimer:!The!arguments!expressed!in!this!report!are!solely!those!of!the!authors,!and!do! not!reflect!the!opinion!of!any!other!party.! + The+report+should+be+cited+as+follows:+Allen!B,!Baldock!D,!Nanni!S,!and!Bowyer!C!(2016)+ Sustainability!criteria!for!biofuels!made!from!land!and!nonGland!based!feedstocks.! Report! for! the! European! Climate! Foundation.! Institute! for! European! Environmental! Policy! (IEEP),! London.+ + + Corresponding+author:!Ben!Allen!([email protected])!! + ! Acknowledgements:++ We!thank!Dr!Chris!Malins!(Cerulogy,!formerly!of!the!ICCT)!for!his!guidance!and!support;!the! members!of!the!BioFrontiers!working!group!for!their!comments!and!feedback!throughout! the!study;!and!the!European!Climate!Foundation!(ECF)!for!funding!the!work.!! + + + + + + + + + + + + Institute+for+European+Environmental+Policy+ London!Office! 11!Belgrave!Road! IEEP!Offices,!Floor!3! London,!SW1V!1RB! Tel:!+44!(0)!20!7799!2244! Fax:!+44!(0)!20!7799!2600! ! Brussels!Office! Quai!au!Foin,!55! Hooikaai!55! BG!1000!Brussels! Tel:!+32!(0)!2738!7482! Fax:!+32!(0)!2732!4004! ! ! The! Institute+ for+ European+ Environmental+ Policy+ (IEEP)! is! an! independent! notGforGprofit! institute.!IEEP!undertakes!work!for!external!sponsors!in!a!range!of!policy!areas!as!well!as! engaging! in! our! own! research! programmes.! For! -
A Critical Reading of Permaculture Literature
Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2018/14 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling The quest for sustainability – a critical reading of permaculture literature ‘ Tove Janzon DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES INSTITUTIONEN FÖR GEOVETENSKAPER Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2018/14 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling The quest for sustainability – a critical reading of permaculture literature Tove Janzon Supervisor: Frans Lenglet Evaluator: Petra Hansson Copyright © Tove Janzon and the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University Published at Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University (www.geo.uu.se), Uppsala, 2018 Content 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Background ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2.1 The sustainable development concept ........................................................................................... 1 2.1.1 History .................................................................................................................................... 1 2.1.2 Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 The permaculture concept ............................................................................................................. 2 2.2.1 History ................................................................................................................................... -
Our Common Future
Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future Table of Contents Acronyms and Note on Terminology Chairman's Foreword From One Earth to One World Part I. Common Concerns 1. A Threatened Future I. Symptoms and Causes II. New Approaches to Environment and Development 2. Towards Sustainable Development I. The Concept of Sustainable Development II. Equity and the Common Interest III. Strategic Imperatives IV. Conclusion 3. The Role of the International Economy I. The International Economy, the Environment, and Development II. Decline in the 1980s III. Enabling Sustainable Development IV. A Sustainable World Economy Part II. Common Challenges 4. Population and Human Resources I. The Links with Environment and Development II. The Population Perspective III. A Policy Framework 5. Food Security: Sustaining the Potential I. Achievements II. Signs of Crisis III. The Challenge IV. Strategies for Sustainable Food Security V. Food for the Future 6. Species and Ecosystems: Resources for Development I. The Problem: Character and Extent II. Extinction Patterns and Trends III. Some Causes of Extinction IV. Economic Values at Stake V. New Approach: Anticipate and Prevent VI. International Action for National Species VII. Scope for National Action VIII. The Need for Action 7. Energy: Choices for Environment and Development I. Energy, Economy, and Environment II. Fossil Fuels: The Continuing Dilemma III. Nuclear Energy: Unsolved Problems IV. Wood Fuels: The Vanishing Resource V. Renewable Energy: The Untapped Potential VI. Energy Efficiency: Maintaining the Momentum VII. Energy Conservation Measures VIII. Conclusion 8. Industry: Producing More With Less I. Industrial Growth and its Impact II. Sustainable Industrial Development in a Global Context III. -
Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies World Energy Council 2010
For sustainable energy. Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies World Energy Council 2010 . Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies Officers of the World Energy Council Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies World Energy Council 201010 Pierre Gadonneix Chair Copyright © 2010 World Energy Council Francisco Barnés de Castro Vice Chair, North America All rights reserved. All or part of this publication may be used or Norberto Franco de Medeiros reproduced as long as the following citation is included on each Vice Chair, Latin America/Caribbean copy or transmission: ‘Used by permission of the World Energy Council, London, www.worldenergy.org’ Richard Drouin Vice Chair, Montréal Congress 2010 Published 2010 by: C.P. Jain World Energy Council Chair, Studies Committee Regency House 1-4 Warwick Street London W1B 5LT United Kingdom Younghoon David Kim Vice Chair, Asia Pacific & South Asia ISBN: 978 0 946121 03 8 Jorge Ferioli Chair, Programme Committee Marie-José Nadeau Vice Chair, Communications & Outreach Committee Abubakar Sambo Vice Chair, Africa Johannes Teyssen Vice Chair, Europe Abbas Ali Naqi Vice Chair, Special Responsibility for Middle East & Gulf States Graham Ward, CBE Vice Chair, Finance Zhang Guobao Vice Chair, Asia Christoph Frei Secretary General Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies World Energy Council 2010 3 Foreword Skyrocketing prices of crude oil in the middle of has been grown in Brazil since its first the first decade of the 21st century accompanied settlements centuries ago and has the lowest by rising prices for food focused political and production costs compared to other raw public attention on the role of biofuels. On the materials. It would be difficult to replicate these one hand, biofuels were considered as a unique natural, traditional and technical factors potential automotive fuel with a bright future, on elsewhere in the world.