Bioenergy in a changing climate: Linking mitigation and adaptation in the Nordic region

This policy brief examines the intersection of bioenergy market development and climate change adaptation in the Nordic region, specifically focusing on Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. It analyzes how globalization and climate-driven shifts in productivity and logistics affect the supply chains of bioethanol, biodiesel, wood pellets, and wood chips.

• Bioenergy is a central element of climate mitigation in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, where it accounts for 20–30% of total energy consumption and there are high ambitions for further expansion to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
• Nordic bioenergy supply chains are highly globalized, relying on trade within Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region, as well as imports from the U.S., Canada, and Brazil.
• Climate change is expected to increase agricultural and forest productivity in Northern Europe due to longer growing seasons, higher average temperatures, and more precipitation, though these gains may be offset by risks from storms, forest fires, and insect infestations.
• Climate impacts on non-European bioenergy sources vary by region: Brazilian sugarcane ethanol may benefit from southward expansion, while U.S. maize ethanol faces increased flood, drought, and soil erosion risks. Additionally, oil palm cultivation in Indonesia and Malaysia and soybean cultivation in Argentina are likely to be negatively affected.
• Climate change affects bioenergy logistics in conflicting ways: warmer winters may reduce ice-related shipping disruptions in the Baltic Sea, but increased drought may halt inland transportation in the U.S. Mississippi River system.
• Warming temperatures in the Nordic region are expected to reduce demand for space heating, potentially freeing up biomass for export or industrial use, such as the production of transport fuels.
• To increase resilience, policy-makers are encouraged to diversify supply sources to reduce exposure to regional climate risks and implement fuel-flexible energy conversion equipment.

APA

Olsson, O., & Johnson, F. X. (2014). Bioenergy in a changing climate: Linking mitigation and adaptation in the Nordic region. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/NORD-STAR-PB-2014-Bioenergy-Nordic-adaptation.pdf

Chicago

Olsson, Olle, and Francis X. Johnson. Bioenergy in a changing climate: Linking mitigation and adaptation in the Nordic region. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2014. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/NORD-STAR-PB-2014-Bioenergy-Nordic-adaptation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Olsson |first1=Olle |last2=Johnson |first2=Francis X. |title=Bioenergy in a changing climate: Linking mitigation and adaptation in the Nordic region |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2014 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/NORD-STAR-PB-2014-Bioenergy-Nordic-adaptation.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{olsson2014bioenergy, author = {Olsson, Olle and Johnson, Francis X.}, title = {{Bioenergy in a changing climate: Linking mitigation and adaptation in the Nordic region}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/NORD-STAR-PB-2014-Bioenergy-Nordic-adaptation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }