Criteria for Assessing Environmental, Economic, and Social Aspects of Biofuels in Developing Countries in ecological, social, and economic terms

This expertise was produced in order to contribute to the ongoing debate on the economic, development, climate and energy policy dimensions of biofuel imports, e.g. from Brazil, and the associated consequences for the environment, industry and local populations. This work was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Following the June 2004 International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, biomass use is expected to grow worldwide. Due to mineral oil cost developments and biofuel tax concessions granted in EU countries, biofuel exports are becoming economically attractive for a range of developing and newly industrializing countries.

This expertise creates a framework for developing criteria according to which biofuels come into question as a sustainable import option for countries such as Germany.

The expertise further recommends engaging in concrete implementation and refinement of these criteria in at least two model projects within the context of development cooperation or bilateral environmental cooperation activities.

The work builds upon an in-depth study performed by Öko-Institut on behalf of the German Environment Ministry on the options for sustainable bioenergy use in Germany.

The study will be available for Download soon!

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