GBEP focuses on sustainability and climate change at Poznan

The United Nations climate change conference in Poznan, Poland (1-12 December 2008), provided an opportunity to outline progress being made on the Global Bioenergy Partnership’s programme of work and discuss its contribution to key debates such as sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

Alexander Mueller, Assistant Director-General of Natural Resources Management and Environment at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), stressed the importance of working towards sustainable bioenergy given the potential impacts of its development, even though bioenergy is forecast to make only a modest contribution to world energy supply.

He stated how potential savings in GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel use could be reduced or even negated through land-use change, adding that proponents of biofuels also need to account for their high cost of carbon-dioxide abatement when compared with other possible offsets, with the exception of sugarcane ethanol. There are also impacts on agriculture and food security to take into account, he said.

“Bioenergy can play an important role in a sustainable, low-carbon energy future,” Mueller said. “But sustainability challenges require concerted action at the national and international level.”

Gloria Visconti, Adviser of the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea, provided an outline of the partnership’s work in view of rising trends in energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions. She highlighted the importance of shifting towards a global commodity in biofuels as they take an increasingly large share of road-fuel consumption. GBEP Partners also updated participants on the work of its two task forces and reports were presented by the International Energy Agency and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (see other items in this newsletter).

The partnership has also been present at other recent international gatherings. On 2 October, it held an event in the context of the ZeroEmission conference in Rome on the progress Italy is making in bioenergy and the importance of technological innovation to accelerate developments. Contributions to the discussion were provided by the Italian Biomass Association and M&G Group.

World Food Day on 16 October, provided an opportunity for GBEP to organise the presentation of a report on “Sustainable Bioenergy Development in UEMOA Member-Countries”, in co-operation with the United Nations Foundation and the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea. The event was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, and opened by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.

Presentations from the Poznan event are available on the GBEP website.

 

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