At a tipping point? How the debate on biofuel standards sparks innovative ideas for the general future of standardisation and certification schemes

Kaphengst, Timo; Mandy, S.; Schlegel, Stephanie

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.01.005

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Even after major reports published by the World Wildlife Fund‐Netherlands and the World Bank found that “deal‐making prevailed” in the place of real oversight of palm oil producers certified by the RSPO (Rogers 2010:114), such third‐party certification schemes are cited as indication that private market actors are increasingly serving as environmental authorities (Mol 2010). However, this study corroborates critical accounts of the adequacy of seals and certifications to promote real ecological change and reinforces concerns that these voluntary mechanisms are increasingly the favorite of governments over regulation, oversight, and enforcement (see Kaphengst, Ma, and Schlegal 2009; for a strong example of this preference for voluntary schemes, see MEAAI 2011).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Energy Policy and Environmental Possibilities: Biofuels and Key Protagonists of Ecological Change*

Holleman

2012

Rural Sociology

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While a growing body of research indicates the severe ecological and social costs of biofuel production worldwide, the U.S. government continues to promote the expansion of this fuel sector. Recent congressional testimony regarding the promotion of biofuels via the renewable fuel standard (RFS) offers a strategic research site for sociological investigation into the practices of key political actors and their roles in promoting and discouraging ecologically oriented change. Congressional hearings provide a window into the political process of energy policy formation, thus informing environmental sociological theory and debates. The ecological modernization perspective and its assumptions provide the analytical frame of this empirical analysis of congressional hearings during the peak legislative period concerning biofuels. This research is intended to contribute to alternative energy debates, add to our understanding of the role of various actors in energy policy formation, and further theoretical developments within sociology.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Energy Policy and Environmental Possibilities: Biofuels and Key Protagonists of Ecological Change*

Holleman

2012

Rural Sociology

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“…Existing subsidy programmes and incentives for bioenergy and for agri‐environment schemes need to be re‐evaluated and perhaps integrated for the purpose of sustainable energy crop production (Paine et al , 1996). The efficiency of standards, when applied voluntarily or only referring to cross‐compliance and good agricultural practice, have fundamental limits in their contribution to sustainable production and in stopping the loss of biodiversity in agricultural production areas (Henle et al , 2008; Kaphengst et al , 2009). Therefore, governance structures that set clear rules and incentives for biomass crop production and use of natural resources are essential for a more sustainable development (Kaphengst et al , 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of biomass crop cultivation on temperate biodiversity

2010

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The urgency for mitigation actions in response to climate change has stimulated policy makers to encourage the rapid expansion of bioenergy, resulting in major land-use changes over short timescales. Despite the potential impacts on biodiversity and the environment, scientific concerns about large-scale bioenergy production have only recently been given adequate attention. Environmental standards or legislative provisions in the majority of countries are still lagging behind the rapid development of energy crops. Ranging from the field to the regional scale, this review (i) summarizes the current knowledge about the impact of biomass crops on biodiversity in temperate regions, (ii) identifies knowledge gaps and (iii) drafts guidelines for a sustainable biomass crop production with respect to biodiversity conservation. The majority of studies report positive effects on biodiversity at the field scale but impacts strongly depend on the management, age, size and heterogeneity of the biomass plantations. At the regional scale, significant uncertainties exist and there is a major concern that extensive commercial production could have negative effects on biodiversity, in particular in areas of high nature-conservation value. However, integration of biomass crops into agricultural landscapes could stimulate rural economy, thus counteracting negative impacts of farm abandonment or supporting restoration of degraded land, resulting in improved biodiversity values. Given the extent of landconversion necessary to reach the bioenergy targets, the spatial layout and distribution of biomass plantations will determine impacts. To ensure sustainable biomass crop production, biodiversity would therefore have to become an essential part of risk assessment measures in all those countries which have not yet committed to making it an obligatory part of strategic landscape planning. Integrated environmental and economic research is necessary to formulate standards that help support long-term economic and ecological sustainability of biomass production and avoid costly mistakes in our attempts to mitigate climate change.

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“…Biofuel certification is a specific case due to its hybrid nature as biofuel production pathways include multiple actors and several successive segments. The length and complexity of the biofuel supply chains make the sustainability issue very challenging (Kaphengst et al, 2009).…”

Section: Information Schemes Voluntary Actions and Agreementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐benefits, trade‐offs, barriers and policies for greenhouse gas mitigation in the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector

Bustamante

Robledo-Abad

Harper

et al. 2014

Global Change Biology

159

116

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Accepted ArticleThis article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/gcb.12591 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Running head: AFOLU GHG mitigation barriers and policiesKeywords: agriculture, forestry, AFOLU, GHG, mitigation, climate, food security, ecosystem service Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.forestry toward global sharing of innovative technologies for the efficient use of land resources. Different policy instruments, especially economic incentives and regulatory approaches, are currently being applied however for its successful implementation it is critical to understand how land use decisions are made and how new social, political and economic forces in the future will influence this process.

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At a tipping point? How the debate on biofuel standards sparks innovative ideas for the general future of standardisation and certification schemes

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Energy Policy and Environmental Possibilities: Biofuels and Key Protagonists of Ecological Change*

Energy Policy and Environmental Possibilities: Biofuels and Key Protagonists of Ecological Change*

The impact of biomass crop cultivation on temperate biodiversity

Co‐benefits, trade‐offs, barriers and policies for greenhouse gas mitigation in the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector

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