207
The OECD has issued policy proposals for the assessment and deployment of
biofuels, principally from an economic and trade perspective (OECD 2008). These
policy proposals hold that there is no one best common policy for biofuel use and
that it is necessary for each country to use an appropriate combination of policies
that match their policy priorities and social and economic conditions. Furthermore,
in order to conserve energy, it is necessary to move toward lower energy consumption and enhancing energy efficiency rather than substituting with biofuels. The
growth of the biofuels sector also raises food prices and reduces food security in the
medium term for the most vulnerable people in developing countries. As such, the
OECD proposes establishing ambitious minimum standards for GHG reduction by
biofuels while avoiding the harvesting of biofuel crops in environmentally sensitive
lands such as wetlands. It also proposes opening international markets to bring
about more efficient production of biofuels. These measures would reduce unintended secondary effects and lead to enhanced employment and income opportunities in developing countries through responsible trade.
In addition, the OECD contends that further study of the environmental risks
from land use changes is needed, encompassing high-efficiency production of biofuels in tropical and subtropical regions as well as indirect land use changes.
13.1.3 Tools for Sustainable Use Strategies
13.1.3.1 Policy Tools for Sustainable Use Strategies
An overview of current challenges and policy recommendations relating to the sustainable use of biofuels was introduced in previous sections. Clearly, it is necessary
to approach the sustainable use of biofuels in a way that takes into account environmental conservation issues, food security, community development, energy security, trade, and the “north-south divide.” We show that the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other
organizations are issuing policy recommendations that meet these needs. Here, we
focus on concrete policy methods by extracting strategy tools from such recommendations. These proposed policy methods can be broadly divided into eight categories outlined below. These are closely related to each other. For example, where
standards, indicators, and certification systems are applied, sustainable land use is
promoted by the standards and methods if they are set appropriately. From an international perspective, some of the more important strategies and initiatives are
development of standards and indicators, the application of certification systems,
international market liberalization, and technology transfer to developing
countries.
13 Key Strategies for Policymakers
The OECD has issued policy proposals for the assessment and deployment of
biofuels, principally from an economic and trade perspective (OECD 2008). These
policy proposals hold that there is no one best common policy for biofuel use and
that it is necessary for each country to use an appropriate combination of policies
that match their policy priorities and social and economic conditions. Furthermore,
in order to conserve energy, it is necessary to move toward lower energy consumption and enhancing energy efficiency rather than substituting with biofuels. The
growth of the biofuels sector also raises food prices and reduces food security in the
medium term for the most vulnerable people in developing countries. As such, the
OECD proposes establishing ambitious minimum standards for GHG reduction by
biofuels while avoiding the harvesting of biofuel crops in environmentally sensitive
lands such as wetlands. It also proposes opening international markets to bring
about more efficient production of biofuels. These measures would reduce unintended secondary effects and lead to enhanced employment and income opportunities in developing countries through responsible trade.
In addition, the OECD contends that further study of the environmental risks
from land use changes is needed, encompassing high-efficiency production of biofuels in tropical and subtropical regions as well as indirect land use changes.
13.1.3 Tools for Sustainable Use Strategies
13.1.3.1 Policy Tools for Sustainable Use Strategies
An overview of current challenges and policy recommendations relating to the sustainable use of biofuels was introduced in previous sections. Clearly, it is necessary
to approach the sustainable use of biofuels in a way that takes into account environmental conservation issues, food security, community development, energy security, trade, and the “north-south divide.” We show that the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other
organizations are issuing policy recommendations that meet these needs. Here, we
focus on concrete policy methods by extracting strategy tools from such recommendations. These proposed policy methods can be broadly divided into eight categories outlined below. These are closely related to each other. For example, where
standards, indicators, and certification systems are applied, sustainable land use is
promoted by the standards and methods if they are set appropriately. From an international perspective, some of the more important strategies and initiatives are
development of standards and indicators, the application of certification systems,
international market liberalization, and technology transfer to developing
countries.
13 Key Strategies for Policymakers