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classified into four types, with targets set for the quantity of each type used. These
biofuels must comply with a standard for cutting greenhouse gas emissions relative
to fossil fuels. The US Environmental Protection Agency is also assessing other
environmental impacts of RFS-2. For example, the production and use of regular
ethanol produced from corn must generate at least 20% less greenhouse gas emissions than regular gasoline, based on LCA, taking into account major indirect
impacts such as land use change (Hill 2011).
In the EU, the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) requires that by 2020,
renewable energy must account for at least 20% of the total final energy consumption in the EU. Targets for biofuel adoption for transport fuel are 5.75% by 2010 and
10% by 2020. The biofuel sustainability standard for this purpose features greenhouse gas reduction targets relative to fossil fuels, based on LCA (min. 35%), environmental impacts (e.g., not permitting raw materials for biofuels from areas of
high biodiversity or high carbon storage capacity), and social impacts. As for indirect impacts, a report by the EC concludes that if the share of first-generation biofuels derived from agricultural crops is held to less than 5.6%, and second-generation
biofuels are used for the remainder, then biofuels can be very useful in cutting CO 2
emissions, even when additional emissions due to indirect land use change are taken
into account (EC 2010).
In addition, in order to verify that biofuels are complying with the above standards, voluntary certification systems are to be used.
Some individual countries, including the UK and Germany, have also formulated
their own standards on biofuels in line with EU regulations. In Japan, a report from
a workshop on biofuels sustainability (“Towards the formulation of a Japanese standard for biofuel sustainability”) issued in 2009 indicated that the effectiveness of
greenhouse gas emission reductions based on LCA, land use change, and the stability of supplies of biofuel crops that compete with food for crops are to be studied,
as elements of standards and indicators, taking into consideration systems and
methods for their operation.
As presented above, standard indicators are divided broadly into five fields: environmental, economic, social, energy, and factors relating to the monitoring of
implementation status. The factor to which most attention is paid is greenhouse gas
emissions in the environment. For this, quantitative standards (e.g., 35% reduction
by the EU and 50% reduction by RSB) are often formulated, with reference to regular fossil fuels, based on LCA. Land use change is also considered in association
with greenhouse gases; in the case of GBEP, for example, indicators will be studied
further and formulated in the future that account for the indirect impacts of land use
change. Other environment-related standards and indicators are generally formulated dealing with soil, water quality and quantity, air, waste, and biodiversity.
Standards for specific crops also prescribe the implementation of environmental
assessments before development, the integration of pest management, and the use of
persistent agricultural chemicals.
Economic standards define productivity assurance, long-term economic viability, and the implementation of best practices. GBEP has a standard related to energy
security such as net energy balance, energy diversity, and flexibility of the use of
bioenergy, which Japan also emphasizes.
13 Key Strategies for Policymakers
classified into four types, with targets set for the quantity of each type used. These
biofuels must comply with a standard for cutting greenhouse gas emissions relative
to fossil fuels. The US Environmental Protection Agency is also assessing other
environmental impacts of RFS-2. For example, the production and use of regular
ethanol produced from corn must generate at least 20% less greenhouse gas emissions than regular gasoline, based on LCA, taking into account major indirect
impacts such as land use change (Hill 2011).
In the EU, the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) requires that by 2020,
renewable energy must account for at least 20% of the total final energy consumption in the EU. Targets for biofuel adoption for transport fuel are 5.75% by 2010 and
10% by 2020. The biofuel sustainability standard for this purpose features greenhouse gas reduction targets relative to fossil fuels, based on LCA (min. 35%), environmental impacts (e.g., not permitting raw materials for biofuels from areas of
high biodiversity or high carbon storage capacity), and social impacts. As for indirect impacts, a report by the EC concludes that if the share of first-generation biofuels derived from agricultural crops is held to less than 5.6%, and second-generation
biofuels are used for the remainder, then biofuels can be very useful in cutting CO 2
emissions, even when additional emissions due to indirect land use change are taken
into account (EC 2010).
In addition, in order to verify that biofuels are complying with the above standards, voluntary certification systems are to be used.
Some individual countries, including the UK and Germany, have also formulated
their own standards on biofuels in line with EU regulations. In Japan, a report from
a workshop on biofuels sustainability (“Towards the formulation of a Japanese standard for biofuel sustainability”) issued in 2009 indicated that the effectiveness of
greenhouse gas emission reductions based on LCA, land use change, and the stability of supplies of biofuel crops that compete with food for crops are to be studied,
as elements of standards and indicators, taking into consideration systems and
methods for their operation.
As presented above, standard indicators are divided broadly into five fields: environmental, economic, social, energy, and factors relating to the monitoring of
implementation status. The factor to which most attention is paid is greenhouse gas
emissions in the environment. For this, quantitative standards (e.g., 35% reduction
by the EU and 50% reduction by RSB) are often formulated, with reference to regular fossil fuels, based on LCA. Land use change is also considered in association
with greenhouse gases; in the case of GBEP, for example, indicators will be studied
further and formulated in the future that account for the indirect impacts of land use
change. Other environment-related standards and indicators are generally formulated dealing with soil, water quality and quantity, air, waste, and biodiversity.
Standards for specific crops also prescribe the implementation of environmental
assessments before development, the integration of pest management, and the use of
persistent agricultural chemicals.
Economic standards define productivity assurance, long-term economic viability, and the implementation of best practices. GBEP has a standard related to energy
security such as net energy balance, energy diversity, and flexibility of the use of
bioenergy, which Japan also emphasizes.
13 Key Strategies for Policymakers