feedstocks in SSA originate from either the agricultural or forestry sectors, which are
highly exposed to (and affected by) climate change (IPCC 2014) (Chap. 1 Vol. 1).
The impacts of climate change on the bioenergy sector (as well as its prospects for
successful adaptation) depend substantially on actual implementation factors such as
production site conditions, crop choices, management systems and supply chain
structures (Field et al. 2014; Kongsager et al. 2016).
For example, there are significant disparities between the adaptation (and mitigation) potential of different bioenergy feedstocks. Annual agricultural crops
(e.g. corn/maize, soybean, rapeseed) used for first generation liquid biofuels may
have a negative effect on climate adaptation goals,
9 as they are vulnerable to erosion
and drought, which are likely to become more serious in SSA due to ongoing climate
change (Rosenzweig and Tubiello 2007; Nguyen and Tenhunen 2013; Smith and
Olesen 2010). In contrast, perennial bioenergy crops (e.g. sugarcane, switchgrass,
miscanthus) and trees for woody biomass are more resilient to climatic disturbances
(thus offering greater adaptation potential), as they can enhance soil stability, reduce
erosion risk and improve water retention in soils (Anderson-Teixeira et al. 2009;
Wright and Wimberly 2013). It is also worth noting that such feedstocks have
generally higher energy yields and GHG emission savings (Fazio and Barbanti
2014; Pugesgaard et al. 2015), offering thus valuable synergies between adaptation
and mitigation (Smith and Olesen 2010).
Further, mitigation and adaptation synergies can be leveraged through the adoption of sustainable feedstock production practices. Agro-forestry and other integrated landscape approaches can offer perhaps the greatest potential, despite some
negative adaptation and mitigation examples (Table 2.5). Other promising production practices include: (a) landscape management approaches that integrate livestock
for biogas production
10 and (b) feedstock production practices that use timber
damaged by insects to partially offset forest ecosystem degradation and reduce fire
risks by creating incentives to remove dead trees (Lamers et al. 2014).
2.6 Implications for Policy and Governance
Through the different pathways outlined in Table 2.3, modern bioenergy transitions
can contribute to multiple SDGs, including SDG 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15 (Sect.
2.2). Indeed, modern bioenergy transitions can become integral parts of climatecompatible development that “minimises the harm caused by climate impacts, while
9 At the same time, these crops may require large amounts of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertiliser,
agrochemicals, fuels), while their yields can be moderate, thus only having modest lifecycle GHG
emission savings compared to fossil fuel alternatives (Fazio and Barbanti 2014; Pugesgaard et al.
2015). Implementing best practices could nevertheless facilitate improved scenarios and greater
competitiveness for the use of annual crops as bioenergy feedstocks (Souza et al. 2015).
10 For similar reasons, biogas has become a major part of national adaptation strategies in some SSA
countries facing significant land scarcity such as Malawi (Johnson and Jumbe 2013).
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
67
highly exposed to (and affected by) climate change (IPCC 2014) (Chap. 1 Vol. 1).
The impacts of climate change on the bioenergy sector (as well as its prospects for
successful adaptation) depend substantially on actual implementation factors such as
production site conditions, crop choices, management systems and supply chain
structures (Field et al. 2014; Kongsager et al. 2016).
For example, there are significant disparities between the adaptation (and mitigation) potential of different bioenergy feedstocks. Annual agricultural crops
(e.g. corn/maize, soybean, rapeseed) used for first generation liquid biofuels may
have a negative effect on climate adaptation goals,
9 as they are vulnerable to erosion
and drought, which are likely to become more serious in SSA due to ongoing climate
change (Rosenzweig and Tubiello 2007; Nguyen and Tenhunen 2013; Smith and
Olesen 2010). In contrast, perennial bioenergy crops (e.g. sugarcane, switchgrass,
miscanthus) and trees for woody biomass are more resilient to climatic disturbances
(thus offering greater adaptation potential), as they can enhance soil stability, reduce
erosion risk and improve water retention in soils (Anderson-Teixeira et al. 2009;
Wright and Wimberly 2013). It is also worth noting that such feedstocks have
generally higher energy yields and GHG emission savings (Fazio and Barbanti
2014; Pugesgaard et al. 2015), offering thus valuable synergies between adaptation
and mitigation (Smith and Olesen 2010).
Further, mitigation and adaptation synergies can be leveraged through the adoption of sustainable feedstock production practices. Agro-forestry and other integrated landscape approaches can offer perhaps the greatest potential, despite some
negative adaptation and mitigation examples (Table 2.5). Other promising production practices include: (a) landscape management approaches that integrate livestock
for biogas production
10 and (b) feedstock production practices that use timber
damaged by insects to partially offset forest ecosystem degradation and reduce fire
risks by creating incentives to remove dead trees (Lamers et al. 2014).
2.6 Implications for Policy and Governance
Through the different pathways outlined in Table 2.3, modern bioenergy transitions
can contribute to multiple SDGs, including SDG 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15 (Sect.
2.2). Indeed, modern bioenergy transitions can become integral parts of climatecompatible development that “minimises the harm caused by climate impacts, while
9 At the same time, these crops may require large amounts of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertiliser,
agrochemicals, fuels), while their yields can be moderate, thus only having modest lifecycle GHG
emission savings compared to fossil fuel alternatives (Fazio and Barbanti 2014; Pugesgaard et al.
2015). Implementing best practices could nevertheless facilitate improved scenarios and greater
competitiveness for the use of annual crops as bioenergy feedstocks (Souza et al. 2015).
10 For similar reasons, biogas has become a major part of national adaptation strategies in some SSA
countries facing significant land scarcity such as Malawi (Johnson and Jumbe 2013).
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
67