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