Environmental Protection:

Relevant environmental aspects of the use of biofuels - the status of international work

Concern about security of supply, the agricultural product market and climate neutrality has given rise to considerable global investment in biofuels. The selection of raw materials, location and technology have markedly differing effects on environmental and resource management. With this in mind, the Ministry of the Environment requires a status overview of the international work on environmental assessment of relevant aspects of the use of biofuels.

The extent of the global focus on biofuels is potentially so great, that it can influence acreage management, land use intensity and direct and indirect emissions to air and water - which in turn will bring consequences for biodiversity and the climate.

The selection of raw materials, location and technology have markedly differing effects on the environmental and resource management. At the same time, a significant effort is being made  to adapt trading regulations on these products. The U.S. and the EU have respectively recorded a strong growth in the  production and use of biofuel, and are aligning subsidies and regulations in relation to this. The major producing countries are looking for alliances and regulatory adjustments to secure their own markets.

The project will be implemented as a literature study, with the purpose of giving an overview of international efforts to ensure as much environmentally friendly biofuel as possible. The literature study will emphasise:

• Criteria for the net climate effect
• Criteria for minimising other environmental effects, including the reduction of biodiversity
• Evaluations in relation to trade related provisions

The project will be implemented as a co-operation between NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Fridtjof Nansens Institutt, the University of Oslo and Ostfold Research.