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Sustainability of biomass

Sustainability of biomass. 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

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Sustainability of biomass

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  1. Sustainability of biomass Erik Wissema – Project manager Ministry of Economic Affairs / Transition Directorate

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

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Discussion (1) • Sustainability of biomass is only needed for policy related purposes, not for the market;

  9. Discussion (2) • Sustainability of biomass is something for companies and verifiers and not for governments

  10. Discussion (3) • It is unacceptable to start with sustainability at a basic level. It should be perfect from the start.

  11. Discussion (4) • Criteria should be country- and situation specific and not generic

  12. Discussion (5) • It is impossible to make sustainability of biomass work in the real world.

  13. Discussion (6) • Criteria should be the product of a bi/multilateral process and not of a unilateral one

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