Sustainability Assurance Systems for Woody Biomass

Transcription

1 Sustainability Assurance Systems for Woody Biomass

2 About NEPCon Engaged in legal and sustainable forest management Danish Environmental NGO, 120 staff members, 15 offices. Twenty years experiences with verification and certification of legal and sustainable forest management practices Recognized EUTR Monitoring Organization, August 2013 (LegalSource). Accreditations: FSC FM/CW/COC; PEFC FM/COC; SBP Monitoring body for Danish voluntary agreement (Energy generators) Carbon Footprint Management/Tourism Hosting the Global Forest Registry Risk assessments for EUTR, FSC Controlled Wood and SBP

3 Solid Biomass legislation in EU No EU wide solid biomass legislation (like in biofuels) Only UK, Denmark, Nederland and Belgium have adopted some regulations Different legislation in different countries RED II at the moment under trialogue discussion at EU level First version was quite NGO sided Second version is industry sided (HCVs are out)

4 UK Legislation on sustainability of solid biomass UK aims to produce 15% of energy from reneable sources by 2020 Legally binding sustainability requirements Legislation includes both requirements on sustainability and GHG emission savings Apply for both primary and secondary feedstock Possible voluntary schemes: FSC Certified PEFC Certified SFI certified SBP certified

5 Danish Industry Agreement No mandatory sustainability requirements for solid biomass Third party verification of compliance with the voluntary agreement Developed based on UK Sustainability criteria for solid biomass Apply for both primary and secondary feedstock Non-forest feedstocks are excluded Possible voluntary schemes: FSC Certified PEFC Certified SFI certified SBP certified

6 Belgian mechanism to promote renewable bioenergy from solid biomass Belgium aims to produce 13% of energy from renewable sources by 2020 Legally binding No sustainability requirements included and mostly focusing on GHG emission reduction In Flanders, requirements relating to cascading Scope includes only electricity production (no heat) Requirements on sustainability are not defined in detail

7 Dutch Agreement on Energy for Sustainability Growth Legaly binding sustainability requirements Most rigorous requirements, including sustainability and GHG emission savings SDE+ define the sustainability requirements and the way how these shall be verified Risk based system can be used only until 2022 for small holders <500 ha The sustainablity requirements does not apply on secondary feedstocks No voluntary scheme covers all the requirements

8 Voluntary schemes FSC Covers all sustainability requirements (except NL) Does not have GHG module Small certified area Complex and expensive system if not required by other industry PEFC If studied in detail, might have problems with some sustainablity requiremens Does not have GHG module yet Area larger than FSC but still not sufficient Complex and expensive system if not required by other industry

9 Voluntary schemes FSC Controlled Wood Does not cover all sustainability requirements (only some 50% in CNRAs) Does not have GHG module Risk based system, might work well only where Regional Risk Assessment exist (developed by experts) PEFC Controlled Sources Very limited number or requirements covered (10%) Does not have GHG module yet Risk based system but without clearly defined indicators and criteria for risk assessments

10 Voluntary schemes SBP Covers all sustainability requirements (except few NL) Has GHG module Risk based system, might work well only where Regional Risk Assessment exist (developed by experts) Might be weak in developing countries Biofuel Schemes ISCC, RSB, REDcert, NTA 8080 Not developed specificaly for forest management Does have GHG module Not used in forestry yet therefore complex and expensive system to implement (no possiblity of using cross compliance like in biofuels)

11 Number of requirements Relation between EUTR, SBP and FSC /PEFC Due diligence systems Emission Additional sustainability requirements Unacceptable sources Legality EUTR FSC-CW* SBP FSC*/ PEFC FM *New FSC Controlled Wood Standard and new FSC FM standard

12 Risk based systems (e.g. SBP) System focusing on main problems identified as specified risk Less time and resources needed with similar outcome Might be weak when risk assessment done by the organization (Regional Risk Assessment not available) Regional risk assessment Comprehensive system involving large number of experts and stakeholders Each indicator is evaluated as low or specified risk based on legislation, onsite performance, monitoring and information from differetn stakeholders Reviewed every 5 years Can reach larger areas than FMU certification

13 Verification SBP Approachof SBP-compliant Feedstock When is the risk based system NOT needed? FSC Certified material PEFC Certified material Post-consumer material (according to FSC or SBP) FSC Controlled wood PEFC Controlled sources Pre-consumer material must be at the same time Controlled wood! When is the risk based system needed? In cases where non-certified or FSC/PEFC controlled material is sourced and shall be sold with SBP compliant claim then risk based system must be used.

14 SBP Verification Approachof SBP-compliant Feedstock 1) Risk Assessment a) gathering information b) risk assessment and c) management of risk 2) Results of risk assessment a) Low risk b) Specified risk NOTE: If there are several risk designations which we can t accept in the RA it is a major NCR 3) Mitigation measures where an indicator is rated as specified risk, mitigation measures shall be implemented to reduce the risk level to low risk 4) Stakeholder consultation 2 months for comments

15 Mitigating Measures (SBP Supply Base Evaluation in Denmark) No prescribed mitigating measures More ways to the same result Possible to use sub-scopes Mitigating measures are only relevant for sub-scopes that includes Specified risk Classification to correct sub-scope is important Mitigating measures require field activity by trained professionals Mitigating maesures are not always feasible due to costs, feedstock must then be excluded

16 Use of Alternative Documentation instead of voluntary scheme Can be used instead of certification Good solution in case of: broken chain of custody (easily verified down CoC) when sourcing from low risk countries (risk based system can be used) when sourcing from developing countries (similar to FM certification) Shall be verified for each delivery or type of source Mostly used in specific cases rather than becoming superfluous

17 NEPConsunshine

18 Thank you! FSC TM A PEFC/ Presentation NEPCon NEPCon works to foster sustainable land use and responsible trade in forest commodities. We do this through innovation projects, capacity building, and sustainability services.