Biofuels: from a win–win solution to a wicked problem?

Abstract

Current and recent struggles encountered in the development of the transport biofuels sector indicate a significant change in the perception of biofuels. Instead of a win–win solution, transport biofuels have become a major planning challenge; in fact, biofuels can be labeled a wicked problem. The planning studies literature offers some tools to interpret this change and guide future actions. First, by assessing recent experiences of biofuels in the EU and USA against the ten characteristics of wicked problems we find biofuels ‘fit’ the profile of such issues. Second, we observe that differentiated strategies will suit the different challenges facing biofuels development. We argue that without recognition and engagement of multiple perspectives on transport biofuels they will remain a wicked problem and we therefore advocate for strengthened approaches to communication and engagement.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank K Birch and T McIntyre for constructive comments on an early draft of this article. The article was improved by incisive comments from three anonymous reviewers.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors acknowledge the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Michael Smith travel grant and the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning for enabling this research collaboration. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.