On June 1st, the Forum will host a workshop during the EFC's Foundation Week in Brussels from May 31st - June 4th.

From Biofuels to Biomass  

^{- Certification as the ideal Sustainability Scheme? -}

^{A Transatlantic Dialogue}  

This year's Annual General Assembly and Conference (AGA) of the European Foundation Centre (EFC) will be embedded in the Foundation Week which will take place in Brussels from May 31st - June 4th.

The AGA's working title itself - "Conversation with the Institutions" - will set an interesting highlight to the meeting.

On June 1st the Forum will hold a high level workshop on

From Biofuels to Biomass

- Certification as the ideal Sustainability Scheme? - A Transatlantic Dialogue

Fuels derived from biomass have been blamed for contributing to increased food costs and carbon emissions through land-use change and deforestation. Despite the concerns, biofuels are being actively promoted in US and EU policies due to climate change and energy security concerns. The continuing growth in consumption and the persisting environmental and social equity issues associated with biofuel production have propelled the discussion of setting sustainability criteria and installing certification schemes into the international arena.

Until recently, this certification and sustainability discussion has focussed primarily on transport fuels and has mostly disregarded other biomass uses. Experts now recognise that if the sustainability criteria do not address other biomass uses, including other energy uses such as heating and electricity, it is likely that the unsustainable practices will leak into other biomass markets.

In response to this concern, the EU is considering a revision to the Framework Directive on Renewable Energies to extend the sustainability criteria to other energy uses of biomass. Across the Atlantic, the U.S. Biomass Program, housed within the Department of Energy, is also actively working to ensure sustainable bioenergy by researching and developing the necessary resources and technologies for a sustainable biomass production and consumption cycle.

In this panel session experts from both sides of the Atlantic will discuss in how far foundations can contribute in this certification process and, to some extend, may accelerate a finding of a sustainable outcome by supporting R&D projects in the key technologies.

Date: June 1^st, 2 - 6 p.m.

The program of the Open Days can be downloaded here