Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Water use and emissions to water
Emissions to air
Habitat protection
Emissions to and from soil
Use of finite resources
Environmental
Te chnical innovation
Land ownership
Employment
Cost of competitor product
Economic
Social
Investment risk
Ethical considerations
Figure 8.1
Sustainable production is seen to occur when environmental, social and economic
considerations are addressed and means are sought to reduce negative impacts to the greatest
extent possible. In reality this represents the best compromise that can be achieved when faced
with a multitude of competing impacts.
to biofuel production, hence negating any net greenhouse gas (GHG) savings.
However, this is a much more complicated issue than suggested by this simple
argument which is typically based on the assumption that production per unit area
is inelastic to demand; this whole issue is an extremely volatile area of debate.
The above argument is an ideal illustration of the potential difficulty faced in
developing these new market opportunities, particularly where the environmental
credentials of a product are the main rationale for its development. However, even
in the case of land-use change, industry has responded by developing sustainability
schemes and approaches to build both consumer and policymaker confidence in
order to avoid or minimise such effects.
If society sees a general advantage in developing a bioeconomy, then the
question is raised of how this should be encouraged and developed to deliver what
society values as its most desirable outcomes. Clearly this would be impossible to
achieve with one all-encompassing policy mechanism, but more likely by
incremental steps and supporting mechanisms to emphasise good policy and
practices that deliver the wider common goal. Not all potential supply chains and
developments will contribute to this, but the aim is to set the direction of travel,
agree the metrics and supporting measures and monitor progress in delivery.
8.2 Drivers for Change
The issues identified as rationale for supporting the development of a bioeconomy
are varied and include (1) social and political; (2) economic; and (3) technical as
defined in the following.
