We feel that international harmonization in this area should to be sought, with the basic process characterized by both simplicity and transparency. We also feel that it is important to begin these efforts as soon as possible.
We support and participate in efforts now underway in the EU and other regions, to prepare a certification system for sustainable bioethanol. These efforts take a broad range of sustainability perspectives into account, such as: Protection of lands with high biodiversity and high carbon-fixation, protection of forests and arable lands from nutrient depletion, protection of fresh water resources, and protection against soil erosion or contamination. These sustainability perspectives are relevant for agricultural production and forestry in general – not just for the small part that goes into biofuel production.
We also support The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuel, an international initiative to ensure the harmonization among national regulations, both economically and through active participation in the workgroup engaged in the development of principles for the measurement of greenhouse gases. And finally, we participate in the monitoring group of the German ISCC project (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) that is running a pilot project to test the suggestions for certification that the European Commission has developed.