WWF: Europe must lead on a global bioenergy certification system
Tue 10 July 2007
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The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) believes that a global approach is needed for bioenergy certification, but considers that a harmonised certification system for Europe could be a critical step towards making this happen. WWF has commissioned a report, by consultancy firm Ecofys, to prepare a proposal for a “Harmonised Biomass Certification Scheme”.
WWF says that, with the production of the report, it hopes to inspire policy makers, legislators, NGOs, scientists and the business community and other bioenergy stakeholders to work together towards a common solution for a responsible bioenergy supply and utilisation.
The British Government recently announced that it aims to provide rewards for biofuels under the RTFO only if the feedstocks from which they are produced meet appropriate sustainability standards from April 2011, provided that this is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules and subject to the development of such standards for the relevant feedstocks. The LowCVP has been working closely with the Government on the methodology behind the sustainability reporting scheme.
WWF says that it hopes to see "the same political courage" coming from the other Member States and from the EU Institutions.
In a recent development, the Director General of the UN FAO, Jacques Diouf, has stated that the world risks deeper poverty and greater environmental damage unless it fundamentally changes its bioenergy strategy.
The FAO is urging the European Union and the US to lower trade barriers against ethanol imports; establish a system for bio-energy environmental standards; and provide more microcredit to farmers in developing countries to develop local biofuels.
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