This page is a subpage of nsforestmatters.ca/Bioeconomy
View that page for a list of related pages.
1. ON SUSTAINABILTY OF THE BIOECONOMY
“The bioeconomy is a worldwide used strategy to cope with ecological, social, and economic sustainability challenges. However, we analyze current bioeconomy strategies and trends to point out potential sustainability conflicts and transition challenges.
Our analysis shows that the bioeconomy is not sustainable per se, as mere input substitution may entail welfare losses. Instead, it requires further debates and actions to avoid exacerbation of ecological and social strains.
Sustainability has to be the key concept behind the bioeconomy and predominantly requires (1) sustainability of the resource base and (2) sustainability of processes and products, especially by (3) circular processes of material fluxes, not least to gain consumer acceptance for bio-based products. Otherwise, the bioeconomy would only entail the substitution of fossil resources for bio-based resources potentially lacking the generation of additional societal and ecological benefits and contribution to climate mitigation.
As markets alone will not suffice to fulfil this path transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, we argue that innovative governance is necessary to reduce competitive drawbacks compared to fossil resources (enabling function) and to secure ecological, social, and economic sustainability requirements (limiting function).” – Gawal et al., 2019. A Path Transition Towards a Bioeconomy—The Crucial Role of Sustainability. Sustainability 11(11), 3005; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113005
Related (examples) :
A framework for implementing holistic and integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of regional bioeconomy
Zeug et al., 2021. Int J Life Cycle Assess 26, 1998–2023
Sustainability implications of transformation pathways for the bioeconomy
Stark et al., 2022 in Sustainable Production and Consumption
Circular Bioeconomy Concepts—A Perspective
Tan & Lamers 2021 in Frontiers in Sustainability
2. GREENWASHING ETC
Greenwashing is “the act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is” (merriam-webster.com)
The “Etc” part includes such things as lawsuits requiring government to enforce existing environmental regulations & commitments, reports which expose contradictions to claims of sustainability etc.
Some recent In the News Items to illustrate a bit of the context of greenwashing what’s going on.
View more under Bioeconomy In the News
Competition Bureau outlines what can be considered corporate greenwashing
Jeffrey Jones in Globe & Mail, July 22, 2024 (Subscription required). From Treefrog Forestry News: “OTTAWA — The Competition Bureau has published guidance on what might constitute corporate greenwashing as it begins consultations over how it will implement Ottawa’s contentious new measures aimed at preventing false and misleading environmental claims. The bureau said goals and timelines for achieving environmental objectives such as reducing carbon emissions must be supported by clear and specific plans, and not just be aspirational. It also warned companies against trying to shield their green assertions with disclaimers. The agency issued the commentary on Monday as it launched a request for feedback to help it formulate plans for implementing the new measures, which some companies, industry associations and provincial governments have criticized for being vague and heavy-handed. The consultation period runs to Sept. 27. Bill C-59 contains the controversial amendment to the Competition Act that puts companies at legal risk for making environmental assertions that do not stand up to scrutiny. ”
Unhappy with new greenwashing rules, Alberta and fossil fuel companies push back
Benjamin Shingler · CBC News, Jul 11, 2024 “The Alberta government is aiming to soften new rules against greenwashing that led Canadian oil and gas groups to scrub their websites of climate pledges or add disclaimers.Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz, whose government has been critical of changes put into law last month, said Wednesday her government plans to take part in the upcoming consultations held by the Competition Bureau, which enforces the rules. Amendments to the Competition Act that became law last month under Bill C-59 require companies to be able to prove environmental claims made to promote a product or business interest… Matt Hulse, a lawyer at the environmental law group Ecojustice, said he was surprised the amendments led to such a quick response from Alberta and the fossil fuel industry. “Greenwashing is a phenomenon that we see in all types of industries,” he said. The new rules are “an economy-wide provision, but as it turns out, the fossil fuel industry are some of the most prolific greenwashers, and they’re taking the most drastic steps to avoid penalty under this new legislation.”
Briefing Note: addressing greenwashing through the Competition Act
Ecojustice May 28, 2024
Also view
– Ecojustice’s Greenwashing information hub
– Federal legislation to support the transition to a net-zero economy is an important first step, but more action is needed (Ecojustice Press Release June 25, 2024
– Environmental and health groups welcome new rules to clamp down on greenwashing, as oil sands’ Pathways Alliance moves to shut down communications (Ecojustice Press Release June 20, 2024)
– Nature bill welcome, needs work to ensure Canada meets its targets (Ecojustice Press Release June 13, 2024)
– Advocates celebrate the Senate’s passage of Canada’s first environmental justice bill, marking a historic milestone(Ecojustice Press Release June 14, 2024)
– Ecojustice at Supreme Court to ensure robust reviews for environmental regulations (Ecojustice Press Release April 25, 2024)
The forestry industry is spending big to hype its green cred. The truth is not that simple
By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson in the National Observer, April 10, 2024 “For weeks, slick earthy green and pastel orange ads touting the climate benefits of Canada’s logging have flooded millions of Facebook and Instagram feeds. Posted by a group called “Forestry for the Future,” the ads click through to a slick website promoting the industry as a way to sequester carbon and reduce wildfire risk. The website suggests that “Canadian forestry is supporting a more sustainable future” from “zero-waste to net-zero,” language typically used by environmental organizations. But in fact, the site is one plank of a campaign by Canada’s largest forestry lobby group — the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) — to fight growing concerns about its impact on climate change and wildfires…”