1 12-10-2004 Rene van Zeeland

Sustainability of biomass

Erik Wissema – Project managerMinistry 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