Introduction to sustainability science in addressing energy security and achieving sustainable development goals

A rapid rise in energy usage and human dependency on fossil fuels have caused the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change. The utilization of biofuels is needed on a large scale as a means of attaining energy security and mitigating GHG emissions. This is to comply with the Paris Accord and COP26 agreement that several developed and developing nations are committed to. As opposed to the escalating crude oil costs, political instability in crude oil supplying countries and environmental challenges in the extraction and processing of fossil fuels, biomass and biofuels seem to be a cleaner and inexpensive alternative. This chapter aims to review the opportunities and challenges of biofuels, global warming, wastewater treatment, and renewable biomass. Drawing on the literature on sustainability, this chapter examines the emerging areas of sustainability science, energy security, and sustainable development goals and their links with economic and societal growth. The contribution of biofuels to energy security and the investigation of major challenges facing the field preventing a broader usage of biofuels are also discussed. Moreover, the chapter also highlights the economic implications of the research, including the technological adoption of bio-based products. The benefits of bio-based carbon in wastewater treatment and pollution control not only touch the environmental dimension of sustainability but also benefit the societal and economic aspects.