Gloria Visconti Senior Expert, Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea Protection, Italy

2007 Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium

“Biofuels and Biofood: The Global Challenges of Emerging Technologies”

EU Perspectives Des Moines, October 18, 2007

Gloria ViscontiSenior Expert, Ministry of the Environment,

Land and Sea Protection, Italy

Five megatrends endangering planetary sustainability

Water Stress

Random Urbanization

Socioeconomic Disparity

Energy Demand

Climate Change

Source: John Schellnhuber, Potsdam Institute, Oxford University, Tyndall Centre

Water Stress

Random Urbanization


Energy Demand

Climate Change



Water Stress

Random Urbanization


Energy Demand

Climate Change

2050?



World Primary Energy Demand(Reference Scenario WEO 2006)

Oil

Coal

Gas

BiomassNuclear

Other renewables

0

2 000

4 000

6 000

8 000

10 000

12 000

14 000

16 000

18 000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

Mto

eM

toe

Source: WEO 2006, IEA

Energy-Related CO2 emissions(Reference Scenario WEO 2006)

0

3

6

9

12

15

1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

Giga

tonn

es o

f CO

Giga

tonn

es o

f CO 2

United States

China

Rest of non-OECD

Rest of OECD


We need to challenge ourselves in order to find concrete and feasible answers

• Which Policy Framework will be more effective?

• Who should be the main actors?• How to expand the market of low carbon

technologies? • What is the timeframe?• What is the current role of US and Europe? And

in the long run?

European Union strategy EU commitment to achieve at least a 20% reduction of

GHG by 2020 compared to 1990. It will move to 30%, if other developed countries and advanced developing countries will commit to comparable emission reductions (EU Council, March 2007);

European Council Action Plan (2007 – 2009) “Energy Policy for Europe”:- Internal Market for Gas and Electricity;- Security of Supply;- International Energy Policy;- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies;- Energy technologies.

EU and biofuels

Biofuels Directive 2003/30 called for 2% of biofuels by 2005 and 5.75 by 2010.

Future: A 10 % binding minimum target for the share of biofuels in overall EU transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020.

To be binding: sustainable production, 2nd generation biofuels commercially available, Fuel Quality Directive (98/70) to be revised.

EU Consumption Target

Production of biofuels in the EU

Bioethanol: cereals, limited grown sugar beet

Biodiesel: rapeseed

But this is not enough…

Common Agriculture Policy ReformRural ReformTax reduction

• Opportunities for Trade! GSP+, EBA are good instruments but problems persist both for the lack of classification at WTO and the need for a certification scheme.

…not enough and not at any cost! Sustainability!

Life cycle analysis, labelling and “certification of origin” of biofuels should be introduced in the global energy market.

Labeling and certification should be used to ensure sustainable development, environmental gains, social equity .

However, sustainability criteria should not represent a way for the introduction of un-necessary trade barriers and

protectionism against developing countries export opportunities.

We have to work together!

G8 +5 Gleneagles (July 2005)“We will promote the continued development and commercialisation of renewable energy by: […] d) launching a Global Bioenergy Partnership to support wider, cost effective, biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries where biomass use is prevalent”

G8 +5 Heiligendamm (June 2007)“We invite the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) to continue its work on biofuel best practices and take forward the successful and sustainable development of bioenergy”

Launch of the GBEP

As a concrete fulfilment of the Gleneagles G8 commitment on bioenergy, Italy hosted the formal launch of the Global Bioenergy Partnership during the Ministerial Segment of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD14 - New York, 11 May 2006).

G8 countries plus China, Mexico, FAO, EUBIA, UN Foundation, UNCTAD, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, WB, WEC, IEA joined the Partnership.

Italy, together with Mexico, has the Presidency of GBEP for the first two years of activity.The Secretariat is housed at FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Functions of the GBEP1. Create a global high level policy dialogue on bioenergy,

2. Favour more efficient and sustainable uses of biomass and develop project activities in the bioenergy field;

3. Foster the exchange of information;

4. Facilitate bioenergy integration into energy markets by tackling specific barriers in the supply chain;

5. Act as a cross cutting initiative, working in synergy with other relevant activities, avoiding duplications.

GBEP Key Priorities

• Report on Bioenergy Policies, Data and Best Practices

• Methodologies for measuring GHG emission reductions from the use of bioenergy

• Raising awareness and facilitating information exchange on bioenergy

Gloria Visconti Senior Expert, Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea Protection, Italy

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