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The history of biofuels in the European Union. From environmental saviour to Climate Bomb Trigger Ph.D . Student, Jacob Nordangård Department of T hematic Studies, Technology and Social Change. Dissertation:
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The historyofbiofuels in the European Union From environmental saviourtoClimate Bomb Trigger Ph.D. Student, Jacob Nordangård DepartmentofThematic Studies, Technology and Social Change
Dissertation: Ordo Ab Chao, The PoliticalHistoryofBiofuels in the European Union – Actors, Networks and Strategies Defended: December 14, 2012
Analyticalframe • Mappingofactors and networksinvolved • Who sets the agenda and initiates the political problem to be solved? • Whatare the triggering events? • Characteristicsof the actornetwork? • Resourceexchangesbetweenactors?
Methodology • Document studies • Contentanalysis • Reconstructionof the historical process and the networks • Long timescale • The historyofhowClimate Change/Energy Securitybecameprioritized as problems (1950s – 1992) • The historyofbiofuels in the EU (1992-2012)
Recognition of the problem – a potential environmental problem is acknowledged; often lead by think tanks as WRI, Royal Institute of International Affairs and Worldwatch Institute; Activists like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace draw public attention to the problem. This is in some cases followed by a “trigger event” that spurs direct action. Policy Formulation – a debate starts about how to solve the issue, environmentalists like Greenpeace thinks that proposals are too weak and late while business interests/lobby try to delay the game. In the end an agreement is reached. Implementation– the legislation is implemented. The NGOs “draw attention to non-compliance or neglect” Control– The environmental problem has been solved and put under control. In some cases it needs to be redone due to inefficiency Policy Life Cycle
Actors • Transnational companies/lobbyists • Non-Governmental Organisations • Think tanks • Research Institutes • Philantrophicfoundations • Inter-parliamentary organisations • International organisations • European Union institutions • Member-states
1992 – Biofuels as a solution “Modern biofuel liquids have their own special hazards. Apart from competing with food crops for good agricultural land, their production generates large quantities of organic waste effluent, which if not used as a fertilizer can cause serious water pollution.” “All these and many other problems, both large and small, will increase as renewable energy systems are developed.” (Our Common Future, 1987) “But what are the facts? Firstly, biofuel production and consumption capacities are limited. It will take years, decades and perhaps even longer for biofuels to achieve a 5% market share, which is the very most it can be assumed they will achieve. This is too low a market share to pose a threat to anyone.” (Christiane Scrivener, 1992)
2000 – Higheroilprice The increase of crude oil prices in 2000 came as a surprise for most observers. In September 2000 oil prices reached a 10-year high. Over night, energy policy and the subject of security of oil supplies have been put back on the political agenda. (Loyola de Palacio)
2007 - Biofuels as a savior – the thirdindustrial revolution "Properly managed, biofuels have the potential to offer important benefits: they can help to reinforce energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also provide an important opportunity for industrial development, innovation and employment promotion. We need to develop an EU biofuels policy which will meet our objectives of enhancing security of supply and tackling climate change, while ensuring sustainable development."
Club of Rome IUCN World Resources Institute McKinsey & Co Fabian Society COM+ AshokKhosla AshokKhosla Pieter Winsemius Jules Kortenhorst Anders Wijkman Maurice Strong Pieter Winsemius Crispin Tickell Världsbanken GEF UNEP Legislation Environmental Management Theories Rockefeller Foundation Maurice Strong Ian Johnson London School of Economics Funding GLOBE International International Philantropy European Climate Foundation G8 Lord Deben Ian Johnson Lord Oxburgh Jules Kortenhorst Design to Win Anthony Burgmans GLOBE-EU Member countries GLOBE-Europe Anders Wijkman LEAD International Prof. Schellnhuber Anders Wijkman Nationella parlamentariker Martin Rocholl Claude Turmes AshokKhosla MechtildRothe Vittorio Prodi Caroline Lucas Funding Biofuels Working Group Claude Turmes Anders Wijkman Crispin Tickell Tällberg Foundation BEE-Group Maurice Strong EU- Parliament Funding Björn Stigsson R K Pachauri (TERI, IPCC) Satu Hassi Tony Juniper (FoE) Tomas Wyns (CAN) Jos Dings (T&E) SanjevKuumar (WWF) FraukeThies (Greenpeace) Dow Chemicals First Solar General Electric Holcim Procter & Gamble Rockwool Unilever Bo Ekman Jan Eliasson Johan Rockström Anders Wijkman (E) Ansvariga RES-direktivet ITRE – Turmes ENVI - Wijkman Claude Turmes (I) Anders Wijkman EU- Kommissionen E-NGO Martin Rocholl Opinions? Tomas Wyns (CAN) Jos Dings (T&E) Samarbeten
”NGO’s must get involved in helping to find the situations that work, and cooperate with industry in implementing them. The days when NGO’s could remain on the outside looking in – like theatre critics on opening night – are gone. Now, they must join the cast of the play in helping to put on an award-winning performance” (BjörnStigson, Advisor to Unilever, World Business Council on Sustainable Development)
2012 - Biofuelsrevalued "For biofuels to help us combat climate change, we must use truly sustainable biofuels. We must invest in biofuels that achieve real emission cuts and do not compete with food. We are of course not closing down first generation biofuels, but we are sending a clear signal that future increases in biofuels must come from advanced biofuels. Everything else will be unsustainable."