Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The BECCS Doughnut: A strong sustainability framework for assessing implementation strategies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

Tress, Domenik LU (2023) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20231
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a largely promoted, but also heavily contested solution to the problem of climate change. Whilst removing carbon from the atmosphere, it potentially leads to detrimental side effects. This thesis provides guidance for NGOs, industry and policymakers in Germany and the wider EU context on how to assess the sustainability of BECCS implementation proposals. Based on a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews, a new conceptual model, the BECCS-Doughnut, with a comprehensive set of social and ecological sustainability assessment dimensions has been developed. Furthermore, implementation trade-offs and coping strategies are evaluated. A decision tree for sustainability... (More)
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a largely promoted, but also heavily contested solution to the problem of climate change. Whilst removing carbon from the atmosphere, it potentially leads to detrimental side effects. This thesis provides guidance for NGOs, industry and policymakers in Germany and the wider EU context on how to assess the sustainability of BECCS implementation proposals. Based on a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews, a new conceptual model, the BECCS-Doughnut, with a comprehensive set of social and ecological sustainability assessment dimensions has been developed. Furthermore, implementation trade-offs and coping strategies are evaluated. A decision tree for sustainability assessments is presented in accordance with the suggested principle of limited and targeted BECCS implementation. This implementation principle can structure the urgently needed democratic debate on if and how to implement BECCS from a strong sustainability perspective with a focus on critical ecological thresholds and social justice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Tress, Domenik LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
sustainability assessment, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, negative emissions, doughnut economics, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2023:039
language
English
id
9120538
date added to LUP
2023-06-12 08:32:12
date last changed
2023-06-12 08:32:12
@misc{9120538,
  abstract     = {{Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a largely promoted, but also heavily contested solution to the problem of climate change. Whilst removing carbon from the atmosphere, it potentially leads to detrimental side effects. This thesis provides guidance for NGOs, industry and policymakers in Germany and the wider EU context on how to assess the sustainability of BECCS implementation proposals. Based on a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews, a new conceptual model, the BECCS-Doughnut, with a comprehensive set of social and ecological sustainability assessment dimensions has been developed. Furthermore, implementation trade-offs and coping strategies are evaluated. A decision tree for sustainability assessments is presented in accordance with the suggested principle of limited and targeted BECCS implementation. This implementation principle can structure the urgently needed democratic debate on if and how to implement BECCS from a strong sustainability perspective with a focus on critical ecological thresholds and social justice.}},
  author       = {{Tress, Domenik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{The BECCS Doughnut: A strong sustainability framework for assessing implementation strategies for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}