Biofuels for Sustainable Development

Despite the expected potential of bio-fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the production and use of bio-fuels have a broad impact on the environment, society and the economy including the pressure they put on food resources as well as their negative effect on forests and water resources. With a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, this project undertakes an analysis of stakeholders, socio-economic simulation models, and life cycle assessment. In addition, field work will be carried out to produce an integrated analysis using an approach based on sustainability science with the purpose of determining policies for the use of bio-fuels at the national, regional and world-wide level.

The project has already established that America’s policy of promoting bio-fuels has had the negative effect of pushing up grain prices. It is the purpose of this research to make continuous contributions to policies which aim to tackle the issue of international use of bio-fuels.

Period:

2008~2010

Funding:

Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment

People:

Kazuhiko Takeuchi*