University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

557
In the following steps of our research, we intend to monetize and introduce the
criteria in bold in a policy support tool. The other criteria will be qualitatively
assessed, and possibly integrated in a certification scheme.
However, before this monetization task, it is of prime importance to understand the
causal relations between the criteria and to unveil the potential non linear effects.
The goal of section 3 is to articulate all sustainability criteria and to describe their
relationships.
Articulation of Sustainability Criteria
The goal of this section is to understand the nature of the impacts between
sustainability criteria. Does a positive change in a given cause “A” has a positive or a
negative impact on its consequence “B”? Or is this link indeterminate? To evaluate
this, we shall use the “Direct and indirect land-use changes” element as starting point,
as it is at the core of biomass-based energies. Direct land-use change arises when a
crop is replaced, on a specific parcel, by a bioenergy crop. Indirect land-use change
arises because what is no longer produced on this parcel must be produced elsewhere
at the expense of other land.
The next sub-sections explain each relation which constitutes our qualitative model.
The global model is then described in section 3.14 and figure 13.
Direct and Indirect Land-Use Changes – Carbon Stocks – Global Warming
Direct and indirect land-use changes have impacts on carbon sinks above (vegetation)
and below (soil) ground (see figure 1). For example, production of bioenergy crop
could lead to the conversion of wetlands or forests. This will destroy carbon sinks
and allow the release of carbon, previously captured in soil, in the atmosphere.
On the contrary, some bioenergy productions can create or increase carbon sinks, and
capture carbon from atmosphere in the soil.