Poznan Programme 10 Dec

Sustainable biofuels production

Dear GLOBE Member,

Brussels, 3/12/ 08

Alongside the UNFCCC-meeting in Poznan next week, GLOBE EU and GLOBE Europe will host a joint workshop on sustainable production of biofuels. This event will be held on Wednesday, 10 December, between 15.30 and 17.30 in Chopin, EU Pavilion. The role of biofuels has drastically changed during the last year in tackling climate change: from being the once certain substitute of conventional fuels, to a controversial no-go area for policy-makers, juxtaposed with the global food crisis. Clearly, a more balanced approach is needed to address this complex issue. In the EU and the US, sustainability criteria for biofuels production are currently being established, to promote biofuels which neither compete with food production nor result in loss of biodiversity and deforestation, but still contributing to a higher greenhouse gas performance than conventional fuels. Done in the correct way, the production of biofuels could be an economic opportunity and a method for reducing oil dependency while securing domestic energy supply, particularly in developing countries. So, how may the EU or US policy incentivize the development of sustainable biofuels in the South? Will it encourage or impede its development? Our panellist will give us their views; Anders Wijkman (Member of the European Parliament, President GLOBE EU), Michael Kauch (FDP Spokesman on the Environment, Bundestag, Vice-president of GLOBE Europe), Mark Radka (Coordinator Energy Branch, UNEP), José Gonzalez Miguez (General Coordinator on Global Climate Change, Brazilian government)