The case of Atikokan, Ontario
Forest biomass is expected to become an important part of government strategies for the achievement of sustainability and low-carbon goals. The forest resource is used differently all around the world and in many parts is already under pressure. At the same time, the energy sector is on the edge of transformation with an increased demand in developing countries and fossil fuels uncertainties. The expansion of the biomass sector raises different ethical questions. Should forest resource be preserved to respect an intergenerational equity? Based on the principle of intragenerational equity, how should the resource be distributed to meet the energy needs of each individual and who gets to decide the way the resource will be used? The case of the Atikokan community presents a good canadian example of how decision makers have or have not dealt with all the conflicting issues at stake in both energy and forest resource managements.
