Harmonising GHG Sustainability Criteria

Background & Challenge

Whilst renewable transport fuels have a range of robust criteria to meet, the failure to harmonise GHG and sustainability criteria across different sectors in the bio-economy can result in market distortions and unintended environmental consequences. Different sectors currently use a variety of standards and criteria, both mandatory and voluntary in relation to biomass as a resource. The sectors considered will include road transport, aviation, heat, electricity, agriculture, waste, forestry and chemicals.

An initial study was completed in 2019/20 with Aston university, the findings of which this project will develop further.

Objectives

• To identify the implications of any failure to harmonise GHG and sustainability standards across sectors
• To influence UK Government policy with the aim of avoiding market distortions and unintended negative environmental consequences

Actions & Outputs

• This (second) phase will bring together a multi-sector stakeholder group to share the desk-based study produced in Zemo Partnership's 2019 work programme
• Undertake stakeholder workshop to agree how harmonised are standards across sectors and policy and where further work is required
• Dissemination and communication to various government departments, working groups and other channels.

Timeline

April 2020 – July 2021