Work Programme

Overview

 

Task 45 explores how bioenergy and the wider bioeconomy can contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainability. Within the circular bioeconomy context, we assess both greenhouse gas balances and broader environmental impacts. The goal is to support sound, science-based development of bioenergy as part of a sustainable bioeconomy.

Task 45 advances methods and tools for assessing bio-based systems and builds a shared knowledge base for sustainable bioenergy policy and practice. Our work improves understanding of the environmental, social, and economic implications of producing and using biomass for bioenergy. This contributes to more informed decision making by landowners, communities, businesses, and governments.

We aim to:

1. Develop, refine, compare and promote suitable metrics, methods and tools for assessing the climate and sustainability impacts of bioenergy systems
2. Identify ways regulatory systems for land use and bioenergy supply chains can better monitor, assess, and promote economic, social, and environmental goals while considering various stakeholder objectives
3. Foster international collaboration and shared views on key technical and methodological issues
4. Aid decision makers in identifying and promoting implementation strategies that reflect local/regional context as well as corresponding developments in legislation and policies

Our work is structed around three interconnected work packages:

WP1 – Land

Sustainable land use requires an integrated view of all land functions and biomass uses. WP1 develops knowledge and tools to identify, plan, and implement land-use systems that provide biomass for the bioeconomy while supporting biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

We examine how land-based bioenergy systems can support goals such as clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13), while balancing other sustainability objectives. Our work includes:

• Assessing biomass supply potential under environmental and socio-economic constraints.
• Comparing land-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches, such as biochar production, residue management, and afforestation.
• Studying multifunctional landscapes to understand how land-use choices affect food and energy security, climate mitigation, and ecosystem services.
• Developing new sustainability indicators for environmental and socio-economic impacts
• Exploring emerging ideas such as “Nature Positive” bioenergy.

By providing scientifically sound methods and tools, WP1 supports stakeholders in making land-use decisions that balance energy production with climate, environmental, and socio-economic objectives.

WP2 – Systems

WP2 refines and applies methods to assess the climate and sustainability performance of bioenergy and other bio-based systems. We adopt a systems perspective, linking the land system to the energy system and the bioeconomy at large to understand bioenergy’s role in achieving climate targets and other sustainability objectives.

WP2 analyses:

• Climate impacts of bioenergy pathways, including BECCS and biochar.
• Interactions between bioenergy, renewable power, and land-based carbon removal.
• Timing of carbon emissions and removals relative to climate goals.

These analyses use and improve tools such as life-cycle assessment and integrated assessment models. Results inform policymakers and industry on how bioenergy can best contribute to climate mitigation and sustainability objectives.

WP3 – Governance

WP3 examines sustainability governance in the bio-based economy. We analyse how sustainability is defined, monitored, and enforced across certification systems and policy frameworks.

The work includes:

• Effects of policies guiding biomass use (e.g. for energy vs. materials).
• Comparing existing governance and verification schemes.
• Analysing the influence of policy instruments, such as cascading-use principles, feedstock incentives, carbon taxes, and storage credits.
• Studying how carbon markets and GHG accounting rules affect bioenergy deployment.

WP3 provides policy recommendations and contributes to international dialogues on credible and cost-effective sustainability governance, supporting bioenergy’s role in achieving climate and development goals.