Introduction: Political Dimensions of the Bioeconomy

Abstract

A seemingly inevitable transition to a bioeconomy is underway, raising expectations as well as important social and environmental questions. Climate change, ocean plastic pollution and other ecological issues have made the phase-out of fossil resources an imperative. Still, greater global reliance on biomass alternatives poses as many opportunities as risks. Ensuring that such a transition delivers sustainable development-with the inclusion of marginalized groups, addressing inequalities, and eradicating poverty in line with the Sustainable Development Goals rather than aggravating these problems-is a daunting task, yet a fundamental one. For that, more attention is needed on governance, on the political dynamics that have steered bioeconomy promotion, and on the often-overlooked social dimensions of sustainability. This introductory chapter discusses the concept of bioeconomy, its tenets, goals, potentials, and key risks. It presents an initial critical inquiry into the political ecology of bioeconomy promotion and then outlines this book's in-depth assessment focused particularly on emerging economies. As these actors increasingly come to shape the fate of global sustainability in the twenty-first century, the bioeconomy reveals to be an essential domain in which to analyze sustainable development politics in large democracies of the Global South. Keywords Environmental governance • Biofuels • Social equity • Political ecology • Sustainable development • Ecological modernization Rescuing the Social Pillar of Sustainable DevelopmentSomething goes missing when anyone describes sustainability as a win-win strategy. If the concept is three-dimensional, at least a third win should be there, including the ecological, economic, and social aspects.People are strongly impacted by environmental degradation and the different strategies adopted to avoid or cope with it. Yet the social dimensions of sustainable development remain understudied, obfuscated, and at times ignored. The United Nations' (UN) 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have duly recognized social aspects of inclusiveness, justice, and poverty alleviation. However, these issues arguably remain marginal in most sustainability assessments,