Sustainability of biomass

1 12-10-2004 Rene van Zeeland

Erik Wissema – Project manager Ministry of Economic Affairs / Transition Directorate

Contents

• What is the problem, background; • Assignment of project; • Vision and criteria; • Items for discussion.

What is the problem?

• Booming biomass market for: • • Energy Transport • Chemistry • In The Netherlands large amount is imported; • No checks and balances on sustainability of the whole chain; • Serious doubts about sustainability of different sources (palm oil, soy oil, wood); • Serious public and political concern.

Assignment of the project group

• Organize stable structure for discussion between stakeholders; • Vision on sustainability of biomass in 2020; • Formulation of broadly supported criteria for the import of biomass, to be used for instance for policy purposes; • Select projects for field tests; • Recommendations on follow up and certification.

Deadline: July 15th

Vision

• Universal framework of criteria, focus on non-food; • If necessary, add specific criteria per option; • Focus 2020-2040, process of development; • Criteria need to keep quality for a long period; • Minimum requirements as basis, incentives for further preservation, milestones; • Whole chain, residues as well as crops ; • Attention for triple P, cascading.

Criteria (1)

• Three levels: • • 2007; transparency, slight improvements, practicality; 2011; significant improvement; • Long term perspective; sustainable biomass; • Verification; • Certification on longer term; • Implementation in policy in 2007: bio fuels and bio-energy; • Implementation on voluntary basis in non-policy industry.

Criteria (2)

• Eight criteria with indicators: • • • • • • • • Greenhouse gas balance: standard chains, including application; Competition with food: more transparency by reporting obligation; Biodiversity: follow international conventions; Welfare and wellbeing: more transparency by reporting obligation; Working conditions: ILO standards; Environmental care: comply with local/national legislation; Water management: comply with local/national legislation; Soil and nutrition balance: Comply with local/national legislation.

Discussion (1)

Sustainability of biomass is only needed for policy related purposes, not for the market;

Discussion (2)

Sustainability of biomass is something for companies and verifiers and not for governments

Discussion (3)

It is unacceptable to start with sustainability at a basic level. It should be perfect from the start.

Discussion (4)

Criteria should be country- and situation specific and not generic

Discussion (5)

It is impossible to make sustainability of biomass work in the real world.

Discussion (6)

Criteria should be the product of a bi/multilateral process and not of a unilateral one