Abstract
Growing concerns over ecosystem degradation, climate change, loss in biodiversity, and rapid depletion of natural resources have urged societies of the developed countries all over the world to encounter the challenge of shifting from fossil-based to bio-based economies. With European Green Deal priorities on a transition to a climate-neutral economy with net-zero GHGs emissions by 2050, projected demand for biomass is 40–100% higher, relative to its supply. To provide an overview on the capacity of the European Union countries to satisfy its demand for biomass through the organic materials extracted directly from the domestic natural environment, the study aimed to assess the biomass self-sufficiency based on its domestic extraction-domestic consumption balance. Both the spatial and temporal variability of the self-sufficiency ratio are used to characterise the stability of capacity to satisfy our own needs for biomass in the EU economy as a whole, and at the level of individual member states. The findings indicate that the differences in biomass self-sufficiency ratios are quite high among the European Union member countries (i.e., in the range of 15% in Malta and 33% in Cyprus; up to 184% in Estonia and 224% in Latvia (on average in 2016–2018)). GMM analysis (EU-28, 2000–2018 period) is provided in this study to define the main statistically significant factors that have an impact on the biomass self-sufficiency ratio. This study contributes to the debate on the issues of biomass self-sufficiency in the context of ecological constraint and the EU’s Green Deal.
Highlights
IntroductionSuggest that the current trends of the increasing global population, as well as economic growth and development, will have serious impacts on natural resources and the ecosystem, unless policy changes deviate the current path of development
Received: 30 December 2021Long-term projections by United Nations [1], OECD [2], and European Commission [3]suggest that the current trends of the increasing global population, as well as economic growth and development, will have serious impacts on natural resources and the ecosystem, unless policy changes deviate the current path of development
This study serves as an overview of biomass self-sufficiency in the European Union as a whole and in individual member state levels
Summary
Suggest that the current trends of the increasing global population, as well as economic growth and development, will have serious impacts on natural resources and the ecosystem, unless policy changes deviate the current path of development. The biotic value chain provides a means to tackle global challenges by replacing fossil-based raw materials with sustainable, renewable raw materials [5]. The bio-based economy has the potential to reduce dependence on non-renewable and unsustainable resources, whether sourced domestically or from abroad, mitigating and adapting to climate change, ensuring food security, strengthening European competitiveness, and creating jobs [6]. Tackling the issues as well as seeking balance between economic growth and environmental degradation has become a strategically important part of the political agenda of the EU and its member countries, since the beginning of this decade [7].
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