Selected Issues to be Addressed in Future Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuels
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Selected Issues to be Addressed in Future Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuels (See Notes)
Contents |
I. Examples of Biofuels Principles and Criteria to Promote Sustainability
Many experts predict that in order to reduce global warming pollution, the expanded production and use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, is essential. Biofuels can contribute significantly as part of the long-term solution to global warming, if overall greenhouse gas emissions are minimized in their production and use; and they will fulfill their promise as "sustainable" fuels of the future if other essential environmental and social values are maximized. A wide variety of organizations have laid out draft sets of principles and criteria for sustainable agriculture and forestry that are relevant to the production of biofuels. Excerpts of several of these documents are summarized and presented here, to give a general idea of the range of civil society concerns that arise when a massive land use change is proposed. The expansion of the industry may be facilitated by successfully addressing these kinds of issues, to maintain public trust in the merits of biofuel production.
A. Conservation of Natural Resources, Biological Diversity, Environmental Health and Land Use
Goals or desired outcomes:
- Maintain soil structure and fertility
- Protect biological diversity, both terrestrial and aquatic, and maintain wildlife abundance and distribution
- Maintain water quantity and quality
Examples of Recommended Best Practices:
- Conservation tillage, crop rotation, terraces, cover crops, buffer strips, grassed waterways, timed tillage, leaving adequate crop residues.
- Maximize use of crop diversity, agro-forestry; discourage monocultures, and use of persistent chemicals.
- No destruction of primary forests, native prairie/grasslands, or other areas containing High Conservation Values for energy crops.
- Use native species/varieties/perennials where appropriate; avoid invasive species and GMO varieties.
B. Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases
Goal or desired outcomes:
- Bio-energy industry expansion contributes to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a well to wheel basis.
- To qualify for incentives or certification, biomass production must have substantial positive net energy and greenhouse gas balances.
Examples of Recommended Best Practices:
- Move as quickly as possible toward cellulosic technology and concentrate on wastes (agricultural, wood and municipal) wherever possible as feedstocks.
- Maximize carbon sequestration (through conservation tillage, use of perennials and deep-rooted crops and no break out of pasture, forest, wetlands or other existing habitat that currently sequester significant amounts of carbon).
C. Compliance with Laws and Regulations, including Land Rights
Goal or desired outcome:
- Compliance with all applicable local, national and relevant international laws and regulations, especially forest conservation laws. [Note: See comment on discussion page.]
Examples of Recommended Best Practices:
- Ensure the use of the land for biofuels does not diminish the legal or customary rights of other users, including minorities and indigenous peoples, to land and other resources.
D. Transparency and Respect for Affected Parties and Employees
Goal or desired outcome:
- General community satisfaction with projects and operations as net improvement in livelihoods and quality of life.
Examples of Recommended Best Practices:
- Reserve substantial segment of production quotas for small scale producers, especially women; support and protect small holder farms.
- Social and environmental impacts of projects are identified through participatory processes, which results in mitigation plans, which are implemented and monitored.
II. Examples of Society-Wide Issues and Concerns with Biofuels Expansion
The following are some of the issues/concerns that have been raised by various stakeholders, which would require state, national and/or international policy decisions (rather than actions at the project/investment level).
- Energy efficiency and conservation must remain priorities, not just increasing alternative supplies.
- The transition to the next generation of biofuel feedstocks must be hastened.
- Concentrate on degraded lands for wood plantations or energy crops -- but do not create incentives for displacement of soy farms or cattle ranches that will cause future degradation of other pristine lands.
- Greater farmer participation in the value added chain should be facilitated in order to enable increased economic development in rural areas.
- Focus agriculture research on mixed crops, agro-forestry, perennials, crop rotations, impacts of varying harvest/management systems, wildlife responses, and impacts on social and cultural values.
- Use of GMO and nanotechnology organisms to generate energy with biomass will be controversial.
Notes
- This list is not comprehensive nor does it necessarily represent the views of the compilers.
- This list was developed with the input of many organizations from a variety of countries. Special thanks for content go to:
- A. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production, 17 October 2005; www.rspo.org
- B. Brazilian Forum of Non-governmental Organizations and Social Movements for the Environment and Development (FBOMS), Sustainability Criteria and Indicators for Bioenergy (PDF file), February, 2006; www.fboms.org.br/gtenergia/energia_doc.htm (mostly in Portuguese)
- C. German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, Global Market for Bioenergy between Climate Protection and Development Policy (PDF file), November, 2005; www.forumue.de
- D. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Sustainable Biomass Production Principles and Practices (PDF file), 2003; www.iatp.org
- E. International Network for Sustainable Energy - Europe, "Criteria for Sustainable Use of Biomass Including Biofuels," April, 2006; www.inforse.org/europe
- F. Forest Stewardship Council, Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship, 1996; www.fsc.org
- In addition, see:
- Recommendations to the Dutch Environment Ministry (VROM),A Strategy on Climate-Neutral Fuels (PDF file), 2006; www.ce.nl
- (Prof. Dr. Jacqueline) Cramer Commission or the project group Sustainable Production of Biomass, Criteria for Sustainable Biomass Production (PDF file) (particularly section 3.3.3), 14 July 2006; www.senternovem.nl
- INFORSE-Europe response to Review of EU biofuels directive (PDF file), 10 July 2006; www.inforse.org/europe
- Liquid Biofuels for Transportation: Chinese Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century, 2006; www.gtz.de
- Liquid Biofuels for Transportation in Brazil: Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century, 2005; www.fbds.org.br
- Liquid Biofuels for Transportation: India Country Study on Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy, 2005; www.gtz.de
- Liquid Biofuels for Transportation in Tanzania: Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century, 2005; www.gtz.de
- Renewable Energy World (REW), Green or Gray?: Sustainability Issues of Biofuel Production, 2006; www.renewable-energy-world.com
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