13, respectively) (Cameron et al. 2016). Conversely, improved access to modern
energy services (related to SDG 7) can simultaneously promote climate adaptation
and mitigation, and broader development goals related to multiple SDGs such as
SDG1 and SDG13 (Suckall et al. 2015) (see also Sect. 2.5).
However, even though most of the outcomes of modern bioenergy transitions are
expected to be positive for attaining the SDGs, there could also be some negative or
uncertain outcomes. For example, modern bioenergy transitions can cause, in some
cases, the loss of employment and income along charcoal value chains, which
implies negative trade-offs with SDG8 (Karanja and Gasparatos 2019) (Table 2.3).
Other, uncertain outcomes could, for example, relate to climate change mitigation
and be linked to the significant emissions associated with land use change
(e.g. Chap. 5 Vol. 2) and the difficulty in estimating the emissions of traditional
biomass in SSA, due to its informal nature, lifecycle accounting complications and
the common practice of using multiple fuels (i.e. fuel stacking) (Masera et al. 2000;
Table 2.3 Impact pathways of modern bioenergy development and use in the household sector
Impact category
Key relevant
SDGs
Impact pathway
Improved energy
services
1, 2, 7
– Higher quality of energy services, and overall higher levels
of human Well-being, poverty reduction and food security.
Health
3, 11, 12
– Reduced risk of disease from indoor air pollution due to
biomass use for cooking, and kerosene for cooking and
lighting
Rural
development
1, 5, 15
– Employment and income generation (both gains and losses)
from the stove sector and bioenergy feedstock production,
transport, processing and sales
– Income diversification for rural households
– Increased time availability (especially for women) to engage
in income-generating activities and development initiatives
(e.g. self-help groups)
Education
4, 5, 8
– Increased time availability (especially for women and girls)
to engage in education and other gainful ventures
– Improved conditions (e.g. lighting) to allow better studying
Ecosystem
protection
2, 15
– Reduced fuelwood requirement reduces rates of deforestation and forest degradation, with positive outcomes for the
provision of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation
Climate change
mitigation
7, 13, 15
– Reduced loss of carbon stocks from deforestation and forest
degradation for fuelwood
– Reduced emission of black carbon and other GHGs from
charcoal production and biomass combustion.
Climate change
adaptation
1, 2, 13, 15
– Reduced deforestation and forest degradation improves the
availability of natural resources used directly or indirectly to
help cope with climatic events (e.g. forest products).
– Provision of energy for adaptation measures such as water
pumping (e.g. for drinking, irrigation), food processing and
storage and medicine storage.
Note: Modern bioenergy fuels can be either used directly in the household sector as alternative fuels
for cooking (e.g. ethanol or biogas) or converted to electricity or heat for local use
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
57
energy services (related to SDG 7) can simultaneously promote climate adaptation
and mitigation, and broader development goals related to multiple SDGs such as
SDG1 and SDG13 (Suckall et al. 2015) (see also Sect. 2.5).
However, even though most of the outcomes of modern bioenergy transitions are
expected to be positive for attaining the SDGs, there could also be some negative or
uncertain outcomes. For example, modern bioenergy transitions can cause, in some
cases, the loss of employment and income along charcoal value chains, which
implies negative trade-offs with SDG8 (Karanja and Gasparatos 2019) (Table 2.3).
Other, uncertain outcomes could, for example, relate to climate change mitigation
and be linked to the significant emissions associated with land use change
(e.g. Chap. 5 Vol. 2) and the difficulty in estimating the emissions of traditional
biomass in SSA, due to its informal nature, lifecycle accounting complications and
the common practice of using multiple fuels (i.e. fuel stacking) (Masera et al. 2000;
Table 2.3 Impact pathways of modern bioenergy development and use in the household sector
Impact category
Key relevant
SDGs
Impact pathway
Improved energy
services
1, 2, 7
– Higher quality of energy services, and overall higher levels
of human Well-being, poverty reduction and food security.
Health
3, 11, 12
– Reduced risk of disease from indoor air pollution due to
biomass use for cooking, and kerosene for cooking and
lighting
Rural
development
1, 5, 15
– Employment and income generation (both gains and losses)
from the stove sector and bioenergy feedstock production,
transport, processing and sales
– Income diversification for rural households
– Increased time availability (especially for women) to engage
in income-generating activities and development initiatives
(e.g. self-help groups)
Education
4, 5, 8
– Increased time availability (especially for women and girls)
to engage in education and other gainful ventures
– Improved conditions (e.g. lighting) to allow better studying
Ecosystem
protection
2, 15
– Reduced fuelwood requirement reduces rates of deforestation and forest degradation, with positive outcomes for the
provision of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation
Climate change
mitigation
7, 13, 15
– Reduced loss of carbon stocks from deforestation and forest
degradation for fuelwood
– Reduced emission of black carbon and other GHGs from
charcoal production and biomass combustion.
Climate change
adaptation
1, 2, 13, 15
– Reduced deforestation and forest degradation improves the
availability of natural resources used directly or indirectly to
help cope with climatic events (e.g. forest products).
– Provision of energy for adaptation measures such as water
pumping (e.g. for drinking, irrigation), food processing and
storage and medicine storage.
Note: Modern bioenergy fuels can be either used directly in the household sector as alternative fuels
for cooking (e.g. ethanol or biogas) or converted to electricity or heat for local use
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
57