Page 48 - Biofuels for a More Sustainable Future

42 Biofuels for a More Sustainable Future

standards, action should be undertaken to reduce unsustainable transport
behaviors, especially car driving and air travels, and to support a shift to
modal transportation for passengers. The number of cars is expected to
increase to 2.9 billion by 2050, most of which in emerging economies, espe-
cially China and India (Doucette and McCulloch, 2011, p. 803). The future
of aviation is also posing some serious threats. According to ICAO projec-
tions (2016), despite technological and operational improvements, the CO2
emissions from aviation through 2050 will increase. Therefore “additional
measures will be needed to achieve carbon neutral growth relative to
2020” (ICAO, 2016, p. 22).
As it seems, the positive environmental effects of biofuels, and bioecon-
omy in general, might be offset by mounting social issues and intensified
unsustainable consumption patterns. To avoid this, a twofold approach to
the bioeconomy is needed. On the one hand, technological developments,
including second and third generation biofuels, are extremely relevant to
complete the transition. On the other hand, sustainable transport behaviors
(e.g., public transport, less air travels) and conscious consumption patterns,
in general, can generate positive environmental effects causing less pressure
on food production, and land with special environmental value or high car-
bon stock. Therefore the few examples of effective policy intervention or
voluntary engagement already implemented, for example, the EU ban on
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single-use plastics or the reduction of packaging materials, should be dif-
fused as good practices for all the sectors of bioeconomy.

6 Conclusions

This chapter has addressed the biofuel transition, analyzing first the main
economic, social, and environmental issues associated with biofuel produc-
tion and consumption, and subsequently assessing the relevance and effec-
tiveness of standards and regulations in addressing those issues. Building on
this, in Section 5 we extend our discourse to the broader context of bioec-
onomy transition, drawing lessons and insights from the biofuel experience.
Key problems associated with the biofuel transitions include indirect land
use change (iLUC), food crop prices and associated food security issues, as

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Initially accepted by the European Parliament but not yet adopted as law—European Par-
liament Legislative Observatory, https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/
ficheprocedure.do?lang¼en&reference¼2018/0172(OLP) (accessed 29 October 2018r.).