RSB principle on Consultation
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Bioenergy > Sustainability standards > Initiatives > Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels > RSB Principles and Criteria (version 0)
| The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels | ||
| Note: This RSB-related page is not actively updated. For up-to-date information on the RSB, see the BioenergyWiki RSB page or the RSB Website The RSB has released "Version 2.0" of the "Principles on Sustainable Biofuel Production" | 
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| RSB principles and criteria (Version 0) | edit | |
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Quick links to each principle | ||
(To comment on this principle, and its associated criteria and guidance, please use the Discussion Page.)
PRINCIPLE
2. Biofuels projects shall be designed and operated under appropriate, comprehensive, transparent, consultative, and participatory processes that involve all relevant stakeholders.
Key guidance: ‘Biofuel projects’ refers to farms and factories producing biofuels. The intent of this principle is to diffuse conflict situations through an open, transparent process of stakeholder consultation and acceptance, with the scale of consultation proportionate to the scale, scope, and stage of the project, and any potential conflicts. The RSB will develop a scoping process to help determine the extent of the stakeholder consultation based on key criteria. Where many farmers are engaging in the same activity in the same area, there should be flexibility for a group of farmers to combine their work.
CRITERIA
- 2.a For new large-scale projects, an environmental and social impact assessment, strategy, and impact mitigation plan (ESIA) covering the full lifespan of the project shall arise through a consultative process to establish rights and obligations and ensure implementation of a long-term plan that results in sustainability for all partners and interested communities. The ESIA shall cover all of the social, environmental, and economic principles outlined in this standard.
Key guidance: The ESIA shall include the identification of High Conservation Value areas, biodiversity corridors, buffer zones, and ecosystem services; shall evaluate soil health; shall identify potential sources of air, water and soil pollution; shall evaluate potential impacts on water availability; shall cover a baseline social indicator assessment; shall include an economic feasibility study for all key stakeholders; shall identify potential positive and negative social impacts including job creation and potential loss of livelihoods; shall establish any existing water and land rights.
Small-scale producers or cooperatives unable to perform ESIAs will need support and/or modified ESIAs. Large-scale producers’ and ‘relevant stakeholders’ will be defined in the indicators.
- 2.b For existing projects, periodic monitoring of environmental and social impacts outlined in this standard is required.
- 2.c The scope, length, participation and extent of the consultation and monitoring shall be reasonable and proportionate to the scale, intensity, and stage of the project and the interests at stake.
Key guidance: The focus of this principle shall be on mitigating any potential negative impacts of large-scale projects in regions where stakeholder conflict is potentially high.
- 2.d Stakeholder engagement shall be active, engaging and participatory, enabling local, indigenous, and tribal peoples and other stakeholders to engage meaningfully.
- 2.e Stakeholder consultation shall demonstrate best efforts to reach consensus through free prior and informed consent. The outcome of such consensus-seeking must have an overall benefit to all parties, and shall not violate other principles in this standard.
Key guidance: ‘Free prior and informed consent’ and ‘consensus’ will be carefully defined. Consensus-seeking will be used to find the best solutions and iron out any potential problems that may arise over the lifetime of the project. Consensus can be sought from a group selected from stakeholders, to prevent decision-blocking by any one group or individual.
- 2.f Processes linked to this principle shall be open and transparent and all information required for input and decision-making shall be readily available to stakeholders.
Key guidance: Good practices for stakeholder consultation will be developed. Smallholders will need support for complying.
