Biomass, Livelihoods and International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU and Southern Africa

The report examines the intersection of biomass, livelihoods, and international trade, focusing on the trade axis between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the growth of North-South trade in bioenergy, particularly liquid biofuels like bio-ethanol and biodiesel, driven by EU commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transport. The document weighs the potential for economic growth and livelihood creation against risks of environmental degradation and economic exploitation, ultimately offering recommendations for future research, policy, and capacity building rather than definitive conclusions.

• International trade in biomass and bioenergy, including solid fuels like wood pellets and liquid biofuels, has grown significantly, with particular focus on North-South trade where developing countries export to developed countries.
• The European Union's interest in liquid biofuels, specifically biodiesel and bio-ethanol, is driven by the high costs of domestic production and commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions within the transport sector.
• There is a tension between the perceived opportunities for livelihood creation and development and the concerns of social and conservationist groups regarding economic exploitation and environmental damage.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2008). Biomass, Livelihoods and International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU and Southern Africa. https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-livelihoods-international-trade-challenges-opportunities-eu-southern-africa/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Biomass, Livelihoods and International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU and Southern Africa. 2008. https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-livelihoods-international-trade-challenges-opportunities-eu-southern-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Biomass, Livelihoods and International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU and Southern Africa |date=10 December 2008 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-livelihoods-international-trade-challenges-opportunities-eu-southern-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2008biomass, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Biomass, Livelihoods and International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU and Southern Africa}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2008}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-livelihoods-international-trade-challenges-opportunities-eu-southern-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }