Bioenergy systems sustainability assessment & management (BIOSSAM) guidance portal for policy, decision and development support of integrated bioenergy supply interventions

Abstract

There is a growing recognition of the carrying capacity of natural systems and how these limits impact economic growth and development. As fossil fuels are being depleted, the era of cheap fossil fuels is ending and societies are more willing to pay for renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are new opportunities for using bioenergy technologies that can contribute to a wider range of economic, social, and environmental objectives to facilitate sustainable development. There are several new bioenergy interventions (policies, projects, or programmes) that are being considered and these developments must be assessed in terms of their sustainability. Both public and private sector policy makers, decision makers, and technology developers (at the local, regional and national levels) require robust methods to guide structured assessments and the subsequent management of the proposed bioenergy systems. BIOSSAM aims to enable the comprehensive and holistic assessment, monitoring and management of bioenergy interventions in order to facilitate planning for sustainable development.