TY - JOUR

T1 - Applying a science-based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy

AU - Cowie, Annette L.

AU - Berndes, Göran

AU - Bentsen, Niclas Scott

AU - Brandão, Miguel

AU - Cherubini, Francesco

AU - Egnell, Gustaf

AU - George, Brendan

AU - Gustavsson, Leif

AU - Hanewinkel, Marc

AU - Harris, Zoe M.

AU - Johnsson, Filip

AU - Junginger, Martin

AU - Kline, Keith L.

AU - Koponen, Kati

AU - Koppejan, Jaap

AU - Kraxner, Florian

AU - Lamers, Patrick

AU - Majer, Stefan

AU - Marland, Eric

AU - Nabuurs, Gert Jan

AU - Pelkmans, Luc

AU - Sathre, Roger

AU - Schaub, Marcus

AU - Smith, Charles Tattersall

AU - Soimakallio, Sampo

AU - Van Der Hilst, Floor

AU - Woods, Jeremy

AU - Ximenes, Fabiano A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. GCB Bioenergy Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - energy system transition

KW - forest carbon stock

KW - forest management

KW - greenhouse gas accounting

KW - landscape scale

KW - reference system

U2 - 10.1111/gcbb.12844

DO - 10.1111/gcbb.12844

M3 - Review

AN - SCOPUS:85106644711

VL - 13

SP - 1210

EP - 1231

JO - GCB Bioenergy

JF - GCB Bioenergy

SN - 1757-1693

IS - 8

ER -