Defining Sustainability: Science, Standards, and Scorecards: Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels

Biomass2009, Sustainability

March 20, 2009

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Barbara Bramble (National Wildlife Federation), in her talk, emphasized the importance of sustainable biofuels and developing strategies to reduce GHG emissions through the energy security, stabilization of commodity prices, and promotion of rural development.

But the problem is that biofuels can’t do all this at the same time; therefore, they should be produced under social and environmental safeguards. She explained the development of these safequards and the criteria of sustainable biofuels production via the internationally focused Roundtable.

Some of the most important results of production of sustainable biofuels should benefit social, environmental, and economic sectors

· Sustainable biofuels should benefit rural communities and workers

· Biofuel production shall not impair food security

· Biofuels should directly follow the National Law including land, labor, and water rights

· Development of sustainable biofuels should conserve and protect soil, water, air

· Biofuels should be economically viable, and lead to continuous improvement

Along these roles, there must be minimum social and environmental criteria for sustainable agriculture that all biofuels must meet, known as the “red line” of unacceptable/unsustainable practices. This presentation contains a table of draft scorecard concept where all the concerns with biofuels (social, natural, economic) are included together and well connected. READ MORE

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