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A. Development of Standards and Indicators and the Application of
Certification Systems for the Sustainable Production and Use of Biofuels
The setting of standards for CO 2 emission and land use conversion, based on LCA
(life cycle assessment), and for strict legal compliance and community consultation
makes it possible to evaluate and manage not only the environmental impacts of
biofuel use and production but also impacts on a broad range of other areas, including community development and trade, by regulating social and economic impacts
and sustainability. In addition, combining standards and indicators with a certification system guarantees the effectiveness of those standards. In the EU, for example,
the introduction of a voluntary certification system is being recommended.
B. Promotion of Sustainable Land Use for Biofuel Crop Production
(Including Land Use Management Planning and Increasing Yields)
To increase the production of food or biofuel energy crops, it is essential to increase
agricultural crop yields. This requires expanding farmed areas, which means developing into precious natural ecosystems. Expanding the cultivation of biofuel energy
crops has both direct and indirect impacts. For this reason, it is important to try and
improve yields per unit area using methods that are both environmentally and people friendly. And with the aim of sustainable land utilization, land use management
plans and guidelines must be developed that take into account agriculture, forestry,
mining, and other industries at regional, country, and international levels.
C. Reviewing Support Systems for Efficient Production and Distribution,
Liberalization of International Markets, and Lowering of Trade Barriers
In addition to providing longstanding protection of domestic agriculture, sometimes
subsidies are provided and import duties are levied on raw biofuel materials and
products to hasten the expansion of biofuel utilization. By reviewing such financial
measures, it is possible to promote more efficient and inexpensive production,
reducing environmental impacts and dependence on fossil fuels (OECD 2008).
Revising these measures can also serve to stimulate increased production at a sustainable level and to steer biofuel production to the most efficient regions and countries. Fair trade also leads to improved opportunities for employment and income in
developing countries.
D. Transfer of Technology for Cultivating Biofuel Crops to Developing
Countries
The transfer of technology to developing countries for increasing biofuel crop yields
and improving of fermenting raw materials and recovery rates tends to reduce
environmental impacts due to improved biofuel crop cultivation and biofuel
production.
E. Efficient Use of Biomass and Biofuels
It is important to investigate the connection between the use of biofuels with biomass use, taking into account the second-generation biofuels that are expected to be
widely diffused in the near future, as well as their use in generators, or so-called
stationary facilities. As pointed out by the UNEP (UNEP 2009), the use of waste
matter and production residue, and “cascading” (first using biomass as a raw
S. Arai and H. Matsuda
A. Development of Standards and Indicators and the Application of
Certification Systems for the Sustainable Production and Use of Biofuels
The setting of standards for CO 2 emission and land use conversion, based on LCA
(life cycle assessment), and for strict legal compliance and community consultation
makes it possible to evaluate and manage not only the environmental impacts of
biofuel use and production but also impacts on a broad range of other areas, including community development and trade, by regulating social and economic impacts
and sustainability. In addition, combining standards and indicators with a certification system guarantees the effectiveness of those standards. In the EU, for example,
the introduction of a voluntary certification system is being recommended.
B. Promotion of Sustainable Land Use for Biofuel Crop Production
(Including Land Use Management Planning and Increasing Yields)
To increase the production of food or biofuel energy crops, it is essential to increase
agricultural crop yields. This requires expanding farmed areas, which means developing into precious natural ecosystems. Expanding the cultivation of biofuel energy
crops has both direct and indirect impacts. For this reason, it is important to try and
improve yields per unit area using methods that are both environmentally and people friendly. And with the aim of sustainable land utilization, land use management
plans and guidelines must be developed that take into account agriculture, forestry,
mining, and other industries at regional, country, and international levels.
C. Reviewing Support Systems for Efficient Production and Distribution,
Liberalization of International Markets, and Lowering of Trade Barriers
In addition to providing longstanding protection of domestic agriculture, sometimes
subsidies are provided and import duties are levied on raw biofuel materials and
products to hasten the expansion of biofuel utilization. By reviewing such financial
measures, it is possible to promote more efficient and inexpensive production,
reducing environmental impacts and dependence on fossil fuels (OECD 2008).
Revising these measures can also serve to stimulate increased production at a sustainable level and to steer biofuel production to the most efficient regions and countries. Fair trade also leads to improved opportunities for employment and income in
developing countries.
D. Transfer of Technology for Cultivating Biofuel Crops to Developing
Countries
The transfer of technology to developing countries for increasing biofuel crop yields
and improving of fermenting raw materials and recovery rates tends to reduce
environmental impacts due to improved biofuel crop cultivation and biofuel
production.
E. Efficient Use of Biomass and Biofuels
It is important to investigate the connection between the use of biofuels with biomass use, taking into account the second-generation biofuels that are expected to be
widely diffused in the near future, as well as their use in generators, or so-called
stationary facilities. As pointed out by the UNEP (UNEP 2009), the use of waste
matter and production residue, and “cascading” (first using biomass as a raw
S. Arai and H. Matsuda