By 2030, the Campaign's Bio-based Substitution Challenge aims to substitute 10% of fossil carbon fuels, chemicals and materials for bio- and waste-based equivalents, relative to a 2019 baseline.
The Biofuture Platform, a Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) initiative, launched its Biofuture Campaign last week with a high-level virtual event during the 12th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM12). The Campaign’s mission is to enable the reduction of GHG emissions and foster a circular economy by showcasing pathways by which countries, companies, and consumers can substitute sustainable bio- and waste-based products for their fossil equivalents.
In his keynote and scene-setting address, Dr. Fatih Birol (IEA, Executive Director) emphasized the enormous opportunities for bioenergy to contribute to GHG emission reductions, particularly in heavy industry and long-distance transport, as highlighted in the recent IEA “Net Zero by 2050” Roadmap.
Speaking on behalf of the United States, which recently became the Chair of the Biofuture Platform, David Turk (U.S. Department of Energy, Deputy Secretary), pointed out that “electricity cannot do it all, especially in areas requiring very high energy density fuels like aviation, marine, heavy duty trucking and rail.”
Mr. Turk stressed that, “This new Biofuture Platform Campaign creates a tremendous opportunity for governments to work with the private sector, international bioenergy organizations and other new stakeholders.”
To raise global ambition and catalyze immediate action, the Biofuture Campaign is implementing the Bio-based Substitution Challenge whose signatories aspire to substitute bio- and waste-based Fuels, Chemicals, and Materials (FCMs) for 10% of their fossil carbon equivalent in sectors and products of their choosing by 2030 relative to a 2019 baseline.
Brazilian Energy Research Office President, Thiago Barral, and Natural Resources Canada Assistant Deputy Minister, Mollie Johnson, voiced their countries’ support for the new Campaign.
Industry leaders, headlined by Dr. Jennifer Holmgren of Lanzatech, and featuring contributions from Dr. SSV Ramakumar of Indian Oil, Jorge Soto of Braskem, Prof. Luuk van der Wielen of the Netherlands Platform Bioeconomy, David Schick of the Canadian Fuels Association, and Denis Arguin of Enerkem spoke to the tremendous progress being made in bringing bio- and waste-based fuels, chemicals, and materials to market and the role that these products can play in achieving Net Zero emissions.
The Biofuture Campaign is open to countries, companies, industry associations, NGOs, and other engaged stakeholders that support the Bio-based Substitution Challenge. For more information visit the CEM Biofuture Campaign website or contact the Campaign Co-Managers at facilitator@biofutureplatform.org.
About the Biofuture Platform
The Biofuture Platform, a Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) initiative, aims to raise international ambition and advance sustainable commercial scale bioenergy production, trade and use globally, across all sectors of the economy via analysis, policies, programs and projects making bioenergy a key enabler in the global clean energy transition. The BfPI is playing an important role in raising the visibility of international bioenergy activities to energy ministers in the larger context of the clean energy discussions.
The CEM initiative is a new stage for the Biofuture Platform, which was founded at COP22 in Marrakech in 2016 and has twenty member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, United Kingdom, the United States of America (acting as Chair as of June 1st) and Uruguay. As a multistakeholder initiative, a number of international organizations, academia, and private sector associations are also involved and engaged as partners. For more information, visit the Biofuture Platform website.
About the Clean Energy Ministerial
The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy. CEM Initiatives and Campaigns are based on areas of common interest among participating governments and other stakeholders, focusing on empowering energy decision makers around the world with the up-to-date information and tools they need to improve the policy environment for clean energy. For more information, visit www.cleanenergyministerial.org.
About the IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries provide secure and sustainable energy for all. Taking an all-fuels, all-technologies approach, the IEA advocates policies that enhance the reliability, affordability and sustainability of energy. The IEA is supporting clean energy transitions all over the world in order to help achieve global sustainability goals. The IEA is the Coordinator of the Biofuture Platform Initiative. For more information visit: www.iea.org.