Keynote introduction: Sustainability considerations for biofuels production in Africa

Abstract

Different drivers have been identified for the promotion of bioenergy crops in both developed and developing countries. The interest in bioenergy projects and biofuels has been driven by a combination of factors, but primarily by initiatives on climate change to reduce GHG, to reduce dependency on oil fuels and by the potential for socio-economic development. At the same time this has led to an increasing concern with the wider implications of biofuels production, particularly if grown at large-scale. Such concerns include environmental sustainability, green house gases (GHG), land use changes and impacts on food prices. Verification systems offer a possibility to assure sustainable production, but have not fully addressed the perception of communities and the effects at different scales. This chapter focuses on sustainability considerations in Africa for bioenergy crops, the certification and verification implications and what is seen regionally as good practice.