GBEP Annual Meetings 2021

The GBEP Annual meetings represent a chance to showcase the work carried out in the year and discuss priorities for the near future. The technical meetings of the Task Force on Sustainability (TFS) and the Working Group on Capacity Building (WGCB) include not only presentations from experts but also intense discussions. This year was not exception, with the Partners and Observers joining online for the WGCB and the TFS meetings on 15 and 16 November 2021, respectively.

GBEP Projects

During these meetings, a number of the projects carried out in 2021 were presented, including the rapid measurement of the GBEP Sustainability indicators in Paraguay for soybean-based biodiesel, the WebGIS tool developed as part of the BIOPLAT-EU project, the technical assistance provided to Cuba as part of an ECLAC project, and the Handbook for the Rapid Implementation Framework of the GBEP Indicators. (Details available in the WGCB and TFS co-chair conclusions.)

Activities and events

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has represented a challenge again in 2021 for the organization of events, the 8^th Bioenergy Week was able to go ahead online. Other capacity building events also took place on advanced biofuels for net zero transport, biogas and biomass for landscape restoration (information and recordings available online).

The technical meetings were followed on 16 November 2021 by the GBEP Steering Committee, this year co-chaired by Amb Alex Giacomelli from Brazil, and Ms Emily Marthaler, the new co-chair from the USA for the next biennium. The Steering Committee endorsed the Programme of Work of the WGCB and TFS for 2022 (co-chair Summary available online).