Sustainable Bioenergy Generation from Biological Resources in the Global South
摘要
The whole world without the exception of the Global South nations is concentrated on reducing and replacing non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels) due to the key global priority of ensuring energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Based on this information, alternative energy produced from bioresources has been found to be essential for achieving net-zero carbon emissions and energy security. This book chapter, therefore, examined sustainable bioenergy generation from bioresources in the Global South. This is with a view to discovering the bioresources that are available in the regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean) for the generation of bioenergy that can replace fossil fuels. Based on this, the chapter established four general categories of biological resources that are available in the Global South. Also, major forms of bioenergy development that are found in some countries across the three regions of the Global South were discussed. Before now, the Global South was known for using traditional bioenergy (fuel wood and charcoal) that is consumed through open-air fires and other inefficient conversion methods. But modern forms of bioenergy (bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, etc.) have been discovered to have the potential to be an alternative energy, displacing a significant amount of fossil fuels in the Global South regions. With this discovery, bioenergy has become increasingly important in the Global South as it offers opportunities and benefits that are either directly or indirectly related to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this regard, modern bioenergy technologies and policies are required to achieve more sustainable energy and balance in the bioeconomy to create more prospects that will be beneficial to the environment and people living in it. Therefore, it is suggested that a Global South bioenergy forum be established to foster communication, education, and collaboration as well as to guarantee that the transformative, beneficial aspects of bioenergy are realized and the harmful ones are avoided. Based on this, it is expected that the information given in this chapter will provide essential guidance to decision-makers or policymakers in the energy sector to achieve more sustainability in the economy, society, and environment in the Global South.