113
consistently supported the use of biofuels complying with appropriate sustainability
criteria as part of an integrated approach to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
However, it also emphasized the need to ensure that biofuels are equivalent in quality to conventional fuels so as to achieve satisfactory safety and emission performance of vehicles. It also emphasized the need for clear and harmonized fuel quality
standards.
12,13
8.5.4.4 Consumers
The results from an annual website questionnaire survey conducted by the PAJ in
2010 indicated that the image of biofuels had turned more positive, compared to the
one conducted in 2008 when global food prices soared. In 2010, 63% of 4390
respondents supported the statement that “use of biofuels for transportation should
be promoted if it is within the range that does not affect other issues such as the food
problem,” which was a 6.5% decrease from the previous year. In comparison, the
ratio of respondents who replied that “I support the proactive promotion of biofuels
in order to prevent global warming” increased by 4% from the previous year and
reached 29.9%.
8.5.5 Analysis
Although the domestic production of biofuels has been increasing, the ability of
biofuels to contribute to Japan’s energy security is constrained by the potential scale
of domestic production and availability of imports. In contrast, biofuels might play
a more significant role in the revitalization of rural economies and the development
of a sound material-cycle society (Matsumoto et al. 2009). The success of such
efforts relies on the future development of technologies and socioeconomic
infrastructure.
The introduction targets that the oil refiners have been requested to meet (from
FY 2011 to 2017: see Table 8.1) are larger than the scale of domestic production.
Thus, Japan will need to continue to import a significant amount of biofuels at least
for the next decade. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to set appropriate
sustainability criteria for biofuels. The Japanese government has been in the process
of developing such a standard and examined a 50% GHG reduction as a criterion.
12 JAMA Position Statement, FQ-01, 2009.10.30 “Quality of Bioethanol and Use of Ethanolblended gasoline”.
13 JAMA Position Statement, FQ-02, 2009.10.30 “Quality of Biodiesel (FAME) and Use of FAMEblended diesel”.
8 Socioeconomic Impacts of Biofuels in East Asia
consistently supported the use of biofuels complying with appropriate sustainability
criteria as part of an integrated approach to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
However, it also emphasized the need to ensure that biofuels are equivalent in quality to conventional fuels so as to achieve satisfactory safety and emission performance of vehicles. It also emphasized the need for clear and harmonized fuel quality
standards.
12,13
8.5.4.4 Consumers
The results from an annual website questionnaire survey conducted by the PAJ in
2010 indicated that the image of biofuels had turned more positive, compared to the
one conducted in 2008 when global food prices soared. In 2010, 63% of 4390
respondents supported the statement that “use of biofuels for transportation should
be promoted if it is within the range that does not affect other issues such as the food
problem,” which was a 6.5% decrease from the previous year. In comparison, the
ratio of respondents who replied that “I support the proactive promotion of biofuels
in order to prevent global warming” increased by 4% from the previous year and
reached 29.9%.
8.5.5 Analysis
Although the domestic production of biofuels has been increasing, the ability of
biofuels to contribute to Japan’s energy security is constrained by the potential scale
of domestic production and availability of imports. In contrast, biofuels might play
a more significant role in the revitalization of rural economies and the development
of a sound material-cycle society (Matsumoto et al. 2009). The success of such
efforts relies on the future development of technologies and socioeconomic
infrastructure.
The introduction targets that the oil refiners have been requested to meet (from
FY 2011 to 2017: see Table 8.1) are larger than the scale of domestic production.
Thus, Japan will need to continue to import a significant amount of biofuels at least
for the next decade. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to set appropriate
sustainability criteria for biofuels. The Japanese government has been in the process
of developing such a standard and examined a 50% GHG reduction as a criterion.
12 JAMA Position Statement, FQ-01, 2009.10.30 “Quality of Bioethanol and Use of Ethanolblended gasoline”.
13 JAMA Position Statement, FQ-02, 2009.10.30 “Quality of Biodiesel (FAME) and Use of FAMEblended diesel”.
8 Socioeconomic Impacts of Biofuels in East Asia