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EUBCE 2024 - Beike SUMFLETH - Bridging Gaps in Sustainability Certification of Low-ILUC-Risk Biomass - A Decision Support Scheme

Bridging Gaps in Sustainability Certification of Low-ILUC-Risk Biomass - A Decision Support Scheme

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Sustainability assessments and stakeholders inclusion in bioenergy and bioeconomy

Bridging Gaps in Sustainability Certification of Low-ILUC-Risk Biomass - A Decision Support Scheme

Short Introductive summary

In this contribution, we present a decision support scheme to bridge gaps in sustainability certification of low-ILUC-risk biomass. Based on a comprehensive review of assessment approaches proposed in the literature for potential trade-offs that could arise from the use of low-ILUC-risk practices in sustainability certification, we present a scheme that supports voluntary certification schemes recognised by the European Commission for sustainable biofuels in their decision to revise existing and include new certification instruments to assess the respective trade-offs. To this end, we show the results of an analysis of the following trade-offs: (1) atmospheric pollution, (2) biodiversity loss, (3) human disease, (4) increased economic expenses, (5) resource depletion, and (6) water pollution. We present a list of defined evaluation criteria to verify whether the identified assessment approaches are scientifically sound and applicable in certification practice. The more of these criteria an assessment approach meets, the more appropriate it is deemed for the certification of a particular trade-off.

Presenter

Moderator portrait

Beike SUMFLETH

DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige, Bioenergy Systems Dpt., GERMANY

Presenter's biography

Beike Sumfleth holds a MSc in Environmental and Resource Management and started his PhD at the DBFZ in summer 2018. He is part of the working group Applied Sustainability Assessment at the Bioenergy Systems Department. His research interest focuses on sustainability certification and ILUC.

Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited


Co-authors:

B. Sumfleth, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige, Leipzig, GERMANY
S. Majer, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige, Leipzig, GERMANY
D. Thrän, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, GERMANY

Session reference: 2AV.3.2