243
initiatives with criteria for certification. The Better Sugarcane Initiative is another
roundtable initiative focusing on biofuel feedstocks (Elder et al. 2008). The
Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has developed a global comprehensive, voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative including standards as well as a certification system. At the same time, the G8 countries created the Global Bioenergy Partnership
(GBEP) which also consisted of public, private, and civil society stakeholders in a
joint commitment to promote bioenergy for sustainable development. GBEP is
potentially the most important one, since it includes governments as members, but
it was “not willing to develop an additional standard and certification scheme”
(Scarlat and Dallemand 2011); therefore, GBEP was expected to reach consensus
on biofuel sustainability as a meta-standard. The UK has established its own
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
The “roundtable approach” provides opportunities to develop certification systems supported by a wide range of stakeholders. Nonetheless, as the criteria developed by those roundtables are only voluntary commitments, this approach will be
effective only if all stakeholders actually follow the criteria. Another concern is the
motivation of the participants. Some NGOs argued that the roundtables provide
some governments an excuse not to take stronger, more direct measures to protect
the environment and vulnerable populations (Reuters 2007).
There are two main motivations for sustainability standards. The first is sustainability concerns, which might lead countries to develop their own standards, partly
aimed at avoiding imports of unsustainably produced biofuels. The second is for
export promotion, to make domestically produced biofuels more attractive to customers who are concerned about sustainability. For developing countries, the main
concern may be standards in advanced countries that imports are required to meet.
Establishing a reliable and robust but low-cost certification system is a major challenge. Other constraints for certificate and standard systems include implementation
costs, physical and human capacity, and monitoring costs. Standards and certification systems may be particularly challenging for small producers, who may need
assistance to be able to comply with these schemes.
One key issue for implementing biofuel sustainability standards/certificates is
how to attract the participation of producers. Some producers may adopt the standard hoping to charge a higher price to environmentally conscious consumers,
but many will adopt it only if it is required by government regulations or by
customers.
However, there is no recognized global or regional standard. The EU has adopted
a requirement for certification, but it has also encouraged competition among certification systems. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) has developed a
global standard through multi-stakeholder dialogue, but it is voluntary. More time is
needed to see how it will develop.
There are currently no efforts to develop regional sustainability standards in East
Asia. The RSB standard could serve as a basis for one, as it was developed with
input from Asian stakeholders, and producers have the option of adopting it
voluntarily.
14 A Regional Perspective on Biofuels in Asia
initiatives with criteria for certification. The Better Sugarcane Initiative is another
roundtable initiative focusing on biofuel feedstocks (Elder et al. 2008). The
Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has developed a global comprehensive, voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative including standards as well as a certification system. At the same time, the G8 countries created the Global Bioenergy Partnership
(GBEP) which also consisted of public, private, and civil society stakeholders in a
joint commitment to promote bioenergy for sustainable development. GBEP is
potentially the most important one, since it includes governments as members, but
it was “not willing to develop an additional standard and certification scheme”
(Scarlat and Dallemand 2011); therefore, GBEP was expected to reach consensus
on biofuel sustainability as a meta-standard. The UK has established its own
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
The “roundtable approach” provides opportunities to develop certification systems supported by a wide range of stakeholders. Nonetheless, as the criteria developed by those roundtables are only voluntary commitments, this approach will be
effective only if all stakeholders actually follow the criteria. Another concern is the
motivation of the participants. Some NGOs argued that the roundtables provide
some governments an excuse not to take stronger, more direct measures to protect
the environment and vulnerable populations (Reuters 2007).
There are two main motivations for sustainability standards. The first is sustainability concerns, which might lead countries to develop their own standards, partly
aimed at avoiding imports of unsustainably produced biofuels. The second is for
export promotion, to make domestically produced biofuels more attractive to customers who are concerned about sustainability. For developing countries, the main
concern may be standards in advanced countries that imports are required to meet.
Establishing a reliable and robust but low-cost certification system is a major challenge. Other constraints for certificate and standard systems include implementation
costs, physical and human capacity, and monitoring costs. Standards and certification systems may be particularly challenging for small producers, who may need
assistance to be able to comply with these schemes.
One key issue for implementing biofuel sustainability standards/certificates is
how to attract the participation of producers. Some producers may adopt the standard hoping to charge a higher price to environmentally conscious consumers,
but many will adopt it only if it is required by government regulations or by
customers.
However, there is no recognized global or regional standard. The EU has adopted
a requirement for certification, but it has also encouraged competition among certification systems. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) has developed a
global standard through multi-stakeholder dialogue, but it is voluntary. More time is
needed to see how it will develop.
There are currently no efforts to develop regional sustainability standards in East
Asia. The RSB standard could serve as a basis for one, as it was developed with
input from Asian stakeholders, and producers have the option of adopting it
voluntarily.
14 A Regional Perspective on Biofuels in Asia