Science Inventory

Advancing Sustainable Bioenergy; Evolving Stakeholder Interests and the Relevance of Research

Citation:

JOHNSON, T., J. M. Bielicki, R. DODDER, M. R. Hilliard, O. KAPLAN, AND C. A. MILLER. Advancing Sustainable Bioenergy; Evolving Stakeholder Interests and the Relevance of Research. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, 51(2):339-353, (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-012-9884-8

Impact/Purpose:

journal article

Description:

Sustainable bioenergy production depends on the resolution of both scientific and nontechnical barriers to its development. We focus on the need to recognize and manage stakeholder diversity as an example of the latter. As a complex issue domain, bioenergy involves a disparate set of direct and indirect stakeholder groups, who have unique interests and use different criteria in evaluating the usefulness of information and making decisions. As a dynamic issue domain, new concerns continue to enter the bioenergy sustainability debate, and bring with them additional stakeholders. We draw on the scientific assessment and common-pool resource literature (e.g., Clark and others 2002, Ostrom 1990) to discuss the implications of this evolving diversity for those concerned with furthering sustainable bioenergy production. First, researchers and others wishing to intervene in bioenergy development need to understand the factors affecting stakeholder receptivity to information-the attributes different stakeholder groups look for in their information resources-if knowledge is to reach its widest potential use and lead to tangible outcomes. Second, efforts to promote sustainable bioenergy must focus on the development of processes to manage competing stakeholder interests, without which we risk both fragmented and conflicting decision making, and therefore potentially unsustainable impacts on a larger scale. Our intent is to raise awareness of these issues; and point to the need for an expanded social science perspective that complements efforts to develop improved technologies and reduce scientific uncertainty.