Biofuels and Sustainable Transport: A Conceptual Discussion

Erling Holden and Geoffrey Gilpin
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Erling Holden: Department of Civil and Transport Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim 7491, Norway
Geoffrey Gilpin: Western Norway Research Institute, PO Box 163, Sogndal 6851, Norway

Sustainability, 2013, vol. 5, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Strategies for sustainably using biofuels must be thoroughly assessed at several levels. First, the use of biofuels must comply with sustainable development’s main dimensions. Second, the use of biofuels must comply with sustainable transport’s main dimensions. Third, gains from using biofuels strategies must compare favorably to gains from other sustainable transport strategies, such as altering transport patterns and reducing transport volume. Fourth, the gains must compare favorably to gains from improving conventional fossil-fuel-based advanced vehicles. Fifth, the gains must compare favorably to gains from using other alternative fuels. Sixth, the gains from using one generation of biofuels (e.g., first generation) must compare favorably to gains from using others (e.g., second through fourth generations). Performing scientifically sound and fair comparisons demands reliable theoretical perspectives and a well-established methodological basis. Industrial ecology theory and life cycle assessment methodology, respectively, are well-suited for these tasks.

Keywords: ecological sustainability; sustainability assessment and strategies; biofuels; sustainable development; sustainable transport; industrial ecology; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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