Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels launch press release
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This is a press release announcing the launch of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels.[1]
(Please note that BioenergyWiki is assisting the Roundtable by providing a forum for public participation and commentary on draft standards.)
EPFL Announces Global Alliance to Ensure Biofuels' Sustainability
'Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels' brings together companies, governments, and civil organizations to develop principles for sustainable biofuels, prevent 'deforestation diesel'
LAUSANNE, April 17, 2007 -- With their potential to reduce carbon emissions, help solve global warming, and create economic opportunities for rural areas, biofuels can be an important part of the energy mix of the future. Governments worldwide are rapidly requiring oil companies to blend biofuels with fossil fuels, and the biofuels industry is booming from Guatemala to Mauritius to Thailand. But without safeguards, some biofuels can have negative impacts, including clearing valuable forests for cropland, using scarce water, and reducing the amount of land available for food production. Consumers, producers, governments, and environmental and social groups are calling for global rules to ensure that biofuels represent an environmental solution, not another problem.
The Energy Center at the EPFL (one of the two federal institutes of technology in Switzerland) announced today a multi-stakeholder process, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, to create draft global standards for sustainable biofuels production and processing. Founding Steering Board members include, among others, the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), Toyota Motor Europe, BP, the Mali Folkecenter, the National Wildlife Federation, Shell, the Dutch and Swiss governments, the UN Foundation, Petrobras, the World Economic Forum, the University of California at Berkeley, Bunge, and TERI India.
"Many people are worried about biofuels contributing to deforestation and air pollution in the name of protecting the planet," said Claude Martin, former Director-General of WWF International and Chair of the Roundtable's Steering Board. "Companies and farmers want global rules that they can follow. The Roundtable will bring together all of these actors to start writing these rules together, to ensure that biofuels deliver on their promise of sustainability."
The Steering Board will invite affected parties to join working groups or otherwise participate in developing and commenting on principles and criteria related to biofuels' environmental and social impacts, as well as overall greenhouse gas benefits. Areas of interest will include protecting biodiversity, water resources, and labor and land rights, as well as encouraging biofuels' contribution to economic development in rural areas. The Roundtable will gather opinions and feedback through online technology, conference calls, and regional meetings, to ensure that developing countries and disadvantaged groups have a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the elaboration of the standards.
"As Switzerland is not a major importer or exporter of biofuels, it represents a neutral platform to host these discussions," said Dr. Patrick Aebischer, President of the EPFL. "Our hope is that in an academic setting, companies, governments, and civil organizations will be able to come to consensus on how to ensure biofuels are produced sustainably."
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels aims to develop draft standards through a global feedback process by early 2008. Already over 100 organizations from the US to Argentina to Kenya to Malaysia have signed up to participate.
Notes
- ↑ Disclaimer: BioenergyWiki is assisting the Roundtable by providing a forum for public participation and commentary on draft standards.
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