title: Lessons from first generation biofuels and implications for the sustainability appraisal of second generation biofuels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The emergence of second generation (2G) biofuels is widely seen as a sustainable response to the increasing controversy surrounding the first generation (1G). Yet, sustainability credentials of 2G biofuels are also being questioned. Drawing on work in Science and Technology Studies, we argue that controversies help focus attention on key, often value-related questions that need to be posed to address broader societal concerns. This paper examines lessons drawn from the 1G controversy to assess implications for the sustainability appraisal of 2G biofuels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an overview of key 1G sustainability challenges, assess their relevance for 2G, and highlight the challenges for policy in managing the transition. We address limitations of existing sustainability assessments by exploring where challenges might emerge across the whole system of bioenergy and the wider context of the social system in which bioenergy research and policy are done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key lessons arising from 1G are potentially relevant to the sustainability appraisal of 2G biofuels depending on the particular circumstances or conditions under which 2G is introduced. We conclude that sustainability challenges commonly categorised as either economic, environmental or social are, in reality, more complexly interconnected (so that an artificial separation of these categories is problematic).
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science and Society (ISS), School of Sociology and Social Policy, Law and Social Sciences Building, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science and Society (ISS), School of Sociology and Social Policy, Law and Social Sciences Building, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Sujatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raman
keywords: Biofuels; Sustainability; Whole system