RSB Public Consultation
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Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels > RSB Public Consultation
Contents |
Introduction
In November 2009, the RSB Steering Board approved Version One of the RSB Principles & Criteria (P&Cs) and the Certification System for pilot testing after public regional outreaches and extensive consultation of the RSB Chambers. While the P&Cs describe the sustainability requirements that biofuel operators have to comply with the Certification System defines the rules to enable operators to make verifiable claims of compliance with the RSB. This system covers the entire biofuel supply chain and establishes mechanisms for chain of custody management, for claims and communications, and for a few other issues. The RSB Standard system includes additional documents, such as indicators, guidance and guidelines that provide operators and auditors direction during implementation of the standards.
Since the beginning of 2010, the RSB Standard is being field tested through several pilot projects in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. As decided by the Steering Board in November 2009, the feedback coming from these projects is used to revise and improve the RSB Standard. Further information and relevant documents on the planning and reporting of the pilot projects can be found here. Additionally, the synopsis report of pilot test feedback is available as Background Documents (see below).
The Steering Board mandated the RSB Secretariat at its last meeting in June 2010 to analyse the feedback from pilot testing and propose language in a new draft (Version 1.1) of the RSB Principles & Criteria and Guidance Document that reflects the feedback received. Version 1.1 focuses on removing duplications of requirements and resolving contradictions between requirements. Where pilot projects revealed opportunities for clarification, the Secretariat developed appropriate rewording. A small committee of Steering Board members supported and guided the Secretariat in preparing the draft reviewed P&C's. This committee was composed of Barbara Bramble (RSB Chair), Khoo Hock Aun (RSB Vice-Chair), Damiana Serafini (Chamber 2), Hafeez Rehman (Chamber 6) and Martina Otto (Chamber 7).
The Steering Board already found consensus on Principle 3 regarding Green House Gas emission reductions. This consensus was confirmed by RSB Chambers through a series of teleconferences in June and July of this year. Version 1.1 also includes new wording for Principle 3, which reflects this consensus.
Version 1.1 is now closed!
Summary of Changes
From the 8th of September to the 7th of October 2010, you kindly contributed to the public consultation organized by the RSB on draft Version 1.1. We warmly thank you for your precious expertise and time.
As you may know, your inputs were used to move forward on the improvement of the RSB Principles & Criteria and Guidance, which culminated with the adoption of Version 2 on the 5th of November 2010 by our Steering Board.
Below is the summary of changes from Version One to Version 2. Several changes were based on your valuable suggestions and a rationale is included for each of them. The second part of the document describes suggestions and comments that could not be integrated for various reasons. Here again, a rationale is included to explain the reason for not integrating these suggestions.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any question or comment on this document, which is also available on our website: www.rsb.org
Summary of Changes from Version One to Version 2 (PDF)
Background Documents
- RSB Principles & Criteria - Version 1.1 (RSB-STD-01-001): DOC/PDF
- RSB Guidance on P&Cs - Version 1.1 (RSB-GUI-01-001): DOC/PDF
- Synopsis Report of Pilot Test Feedback (January to August 2010)
- Instructions for the Public Consultation. You can comment on the RSB Principles & Criteria by clicking on the links in the box below:
| Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) | edit | |
| The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels is officially open for business. See PDF factsheets about the RSB: RSB Overview | RSB - Frequently Asked Questions | ||
Next Steps
This Public Consultation is now closed!
- Please note that some comments and suggestions may not be taken into consideration for the following reasons:
- they are not applicable in the current scope of the RSB System (e.g. suggestions related to the use of solid bioenergy);
- they do not relate to the proposed edits in Version 1.1; or
- they contradict fundamental decisions of the RSB Steering Board.
- The RSB Secretariat will publish a compilation of the comments received with the name and affiliation of the contributors.
- Based on the comments and suggestions received through the public and the Chamber consultation, the RSB Secretariat will draft "Version 1.2" for consultation of the Steering Board (October). The rationale for proposed rewording will be included in this draft.
- The RSB Steering Board will consider Version 1.2 and give further direction as to the development of Version 1.3.
- The RSB Chambers will hold telephone conference calls in October 2010 to consider Version 1.3 and to provide further input.
- The input from Chambers will be integrated in a next Version and presented to the Steering Board in preparation of its in-person meeting of November 3-5, 2010.
- The Steering Board will consider this new Version and make a decision on the approval of the revised RSB Standard as an operational Version 2.
The RSB seeks to be an operational certification standard and begin to issue its first compliance certificates in early 2011. The adoption of Version 2 of the RSB Standard will not be the end of the standard development process, but rather the beginning of an evolving standard reflecting current technical, environmental and social realities. The biofuel sector is rapidly changing and the RSB will continue to be open and flexible to integrating new information and technology developments into the Standard to stay relevant into the next decade and beyond. Consequently, regular reviews and new rounds of public consultation on Version 2 will be organised in the future, following ISEAL Code of Conduct.
Contact Details
RSB - Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels
EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne
Energy Center
Chateau de Bassenges, Station 5
CH - 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
email: rsb[at]epfl.ch
phone: +41 21 693 00 79
fax: +41 21 693 00 00
Useful Links
- See the RSB webpage on the public consultation
- For general comments, visit the RSB Public Consultation Discussion Page
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