28.4.2020

Sustainability of Biofuels - Challenges

The recent debate has create an unfortunate black and white picture in regards to biofuels.

The problems and challenges are real, such as social issues, displacement effects causing deforestation, increased food prices raised, but this does not necessarily rule out the option that biofuels can be produced in such a way that it actually decreases poverty and does not cause negative effects on biodiversity. Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

28.4.2020

Context Goals of WWF GHG and sustainability The role of biofuels?

What do we need to do in the EU?

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

Context • • • • • • Bioenergy, biomass, biofuels?

Various drivers for bioenergy Fast growth: Bioenergy targets in > 50 countries worldwide Several discussions back alive – Agriculture Subsidies, Tariffs, Free Trade Agreements...

– Expansion of “Sensitive” Commodities (palm oil, soy...) Globally around 46 EJ of bioenergy (IEA, 2006) Traditional solid biomass (fuelwood, dung, charcoal, straw...): 35 EJ and over ½ of global wood consumption!

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland 28.4.2020

Goals of WWF •

Climate

To avoid dangerous climate change the increment of Earth’s average temperature has to stay below 2 celsius. – Requiers 50-85% GHG cuts by 2050. – WWF’s key solutions: Energy efficiency, stop deforestation, development of low emission tech, flexible fuels and storage, displacing coal with nat. gas, carbon capture & storage •

Sustainable production

WWF has worked for years to promote sustainable commodity production.

– There is currently an opportunity to certify bioenergy products. WWF is also looking, together with other partners, into the possibility to expand such a system for all kinds of crops at a later stage.

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland 28.4.2020

Context Goals of WWF GHG and sustainability The role of biofuels?

What do we need to do in the EU?

28.4.2020

Land cleared for soy, around Brazilia © WWF / László Máthé Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

28.4.2020

Sources of GHG emission on a life-cycle • • • • • • • • N (fertilisers, N2O) Processing plant (use of energy…) Energy use for crop production (diesel, fertiliser, water…) Direct and indirect land-use change Transport of the fuels Use of co-products Efficiency of bioenergy use ...

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

If produced correctly both emissions and environmental impacts can be reduced 28.4.2020

EMPA, 2007 Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

How To: GHG and sustainable production • • • Measure GHG balances of bioenergy with accepted and comparable methodologies Certify bioenergy (on GHG balances, social issues and environmental issues) Set minimum GHG savings and link incentives for bioenergy to GHG savings - this would spur non-technology specific continuous improvement • Problem: is everything measurable?

– N2O (Nitrous oxide) – indirect effects Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland 28.4.2020

N2O & Indirect Effects • • Should be avoided as much as possible N20 – Better Management Practices: limit nitrogen use, encourage conservation agriculture (no/low till; crop rotation; permanent coverage), encourage alternative fertilisers Indirect land-use change – Use of idle/degraded land – Use of waste products – Make existing agriculture/forestry land use more efficient • If it cannot be proved that N input is limited or indirect effects are avoided: “GHG risk fee” Fee goes to REDD or CDM for instance?

28.4.2020

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

Second generation biofuels for 0-generation cars?

28.4.2020

Rabbit & Jatropha in Guatemala © WWF / JP Denruyter Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

Second generation biofuels for second generation cars!

• Grid-connected vehicles running on renewable electricity; sustainable biofuels provide range extension for PHEVs • If targets achieved only with biofuels: Same renewable targets with 4 times less volume and land!!!

28.4.2020

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

28.4.2020

The role of biofuels?

• • Industrialized countries Final aim should be electrification of transport Sustainable biofuels are range extensions for plug-in hybrid flex-fuel cars • Developing countries Biofuels to reduce dependency on oil and revitalise agriculture Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

• • • • • Context Goals of WWF GHG and sustainability The role of biofuels?

What do we need to do in the EU?

28.4.2020

Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland

10% renewable energy in transport think further • • • Reducing fuel consumption in transport by 10% (1%) Electrification of transport (1 - 2%?) Biofuels (7-8%?) – Careful selection of feedstock and countries – Strong certification scheme Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland 28.4.2020

Companies International Meta-Standard for bioenergy production Governments incentives RTRS RSPO FSC GHG Civil Society BSI Institutions

Are we prepared for sustainable bioenergy?

• • • Today: – hunger in countries with, often, low agriculture productivity; – deforestation, increasing meat consumption, increasing population – water crisis looming in various parts of the world If done well, bioenergy could reduce GHG emissions, increase investments in agriculture in developing countries and in degraded areas, create decent employment, and have a positive spill-over effect on other agriculture and forestry sectors. To guarantee an equal share of sustainably produced commodities and benefits will require investments in agriculture in developing countries.

But this costs money. Are we prepared to pay for that? Are we ready for such an alliance? Sampsa Kiianmaa WWF Finland 28.4.2020

Thank you!

Jean-Philippe Denruyter [email protected]

+32 2 740 09 27

http://www.panda.org

Sampsa Kiianmaa [email protected]

wwf.fi, panda.org

28.4.2020

Rabbit & Jatropha in Guatemala © WWF / JP Denruyter