Serious mismatches continue between science and policy in forest bioenergy

Abstract In recent years, the production of pellets derived from forestry biomass to replace coal for electricity generation has been increasing, with over 10 million tonnes traded internationally?primarily between United States and Europe but with an increasing trend to Asia. Critical to this trade is the classification of woody biomass as ?renewable energy? and thus eligible for public subsidies. However, much scientific study on the net effect of this trend suggests that it is having the opposite effect to that expected of renewable energy, by increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide for substantial periods of time. This review, based on recent work by Europe's Academies of Science, finds that current policies are failing to recognize that removing forest carbon stocks for bioenergy leads to an initial increase in emissions. Moreover, the periods during which atmospheric CO2 levels are raised before forest regrowth can reabsorb the excess emissions are incompatible with the urgency of reducing emissions to comply with the objectives enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We consider how current policy might be reformed to reduce negative impacts on climate and argue for a more realistic science-based assessment of the potential of forest bioenergy in substituting for fossil fuels. The length of time atmospheric concentrations of CO2 increase is highly dependent on the feedstocks and we argue for regulations to explicitly require these to be sources with short payback periods. Furthermore, we describe the current United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accounting rules which allow imported biomass to be treated as zero emissions at the point of combustion and urge their revision to remove the risk of these providing incentives to import biomass with negative climate impacts. Reforms such as these would allow the industry to evolve to methods and scales which are more compatible with the basic purpose for which it was designed.Non peer reviewe

The Challenge of Resilience in a Globalised World

Resilience determines the capacity to successfully deal with difficult events and to adapt and overcome adversity. It creates stability in a changing world which in turn promotes job creation, economic growth and environmental sustainability. Resilience is a fundamental prerequisite for Europe as the largest integrated economic area in the world and has an important social dimension which requires the active cooperation of all stakeholders; citizens, the private sector, governments and NGOs included. This report discusses the concept of resilience from different perspectives and the role of science in the continuous process of building a resilient, stable, competitive and prosperous Europe.JRC.G-Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (Ispra

For a Future Sustainable Competitive and Greener EU Budget - Integrating the Climate Change Objectives of the EU. Final Report of a CEPS Task Force, 5 December 2009

In March 2009, CEPS formed a Task Force under the chairmanship of Anders Wijkman, former MEP, Vice Chairman of the Taellberg Foundation and Vice President of the Club of Rome, to examine the impacts of climate change and the extent to which the EU budget can effectively assist in addressing them. Based on the discussions among the Task Force members and independent analysis by the rapporteur, Jorge Nunez Ferrer, with contributions from Christian Egenhofer and Arno Behrens, this report recommends the fundamental reforms to the EU budget, which are necessary for the EU to achieve its objectives on climate change, along with helping it to lead the global effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions

Beyond Bali: Strategic Issues for the post-2012 Climate Change Regime. CEPS Paperbacks. April 2008

Defying all odds, governments participating in the global climate negotiations at Bali, Indonesia reached agreement on a roadmap towards a global climate change agreement to be completed by the end of 2009, ready to fill the gap when the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol expire in 2012. The contributions in this book examine some of the most difficult and controversial questions that global climate change negotiators face between now and the emergence of a ‘Copenhagen Protocol’ in 2009, and even beyond. Written by authoritative experts in the field, the various chapters are organised around the four principle elements in the Bali Action Plan – mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing – presented from different country, stakeholder and political perspectives

Lyft klimatet - starta ett medborgarråd

Debattörerna: Vanliga svenskar måste få bli mer delaktigaDEBATT. Den gångna sommaren har präglats av torka, rekordtemperaturer och översvämningar på många håll i världen.Att bromsa klimatförändringarna blir en alltmer akut politisk uppgift, men de beslut som krävs för att minska utsläppen fattas inte. Förra året ökade till och med de svenska utsläppen av växthusgaser med fyra procent

Bannlys alla politiska beslut som ger mer klimatutsläpp

Torftig valdebatt. Dagspolitiken klarar inte att hantera ödesfrågan om klimatet, vilket oroar oss. Vi föreslår därför ett ”utsläppsmoratorium”: inga beslut får tas som ökar utsläppen av växthusgaser. Principen måste kopplas till mål om exempelvis förnybar energi och grön infrastruktur, skriver 23 forskare och debattörer