Version Zero of the RSB Principles and Criteria

Página de los principios & criterios en español

Página dos princípios & criterias em português

Page des principes & critères en français
 

On August 13^th, 2008, the Roundtable's Steering Board announced a new draft of sustainability standards for sustainable biofuels, developed over the past year by stakeholders from around the world.  'Version Zero' can be downloaded here .

Stakeholder feedback on Version Zero

As we wish this to be a globally-applicable and globally-accessible standard for sustainable biofuels, we are actively encouraging stakeholder feedback from any interested party.  The Steering Board will take all of this feedback into account through February, 2009 and publish a revised 'Version One' in April, 2009.

We encourage all stakeholders to post feedback on 'Version Zero' in English on the Bioenergy Wiki, http://www.bioenergywiki.net.  If this is not possible, please mail them in English, French, or Spanish to rsb"at"epfl.ch or telephone them in to +41 21 693 0079.

We will also be co-hosting several in-person feedback sessions on Version Zero around the world.  To sign up for one of these meetings, please fill out this online form : Regional meeting signup form.

Version Zero - Principles for sustainable biofuels

Version 0.0 (August 2008)

Legality

1. Biofuel production shall follow all applicable laws of the country in which they occur, and shall endeavour to follow all international treaties relevant to biofuels' production to which the relevant country is a party.

Key guidance: Includes laws and treaties relating to air quality, water resources, soil conservation, protected areas, biodiversity, labor conditions, agricultural practices, and land rights, including for instance ILO, CBD, UNFCCC, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This standard can go beyond national law, but cannot contradict or contravene national law.

Consultation, Planning and Monitoring 

2. Biofuels projects shall be designed and operated under appropriate, comprehensive, transparent, consultative, and participatory processes that involve all relevant stakeholders.

Criteria and guidance on Consultation, Planning and Monitoring

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas

3. Biofuels shall contribute to climate change mitigation by significantly reducing GHG emissions as compared to fossil fuels.

Criteria and guidance on Greenhouse Gases

Human and Labor Rights

4. Biofuel production shall not violate human rights or labor rights, and shall ensure decent work and the well-being of workers.

Criteria and guidance on Human and Labor Rights

Rural and Social Development

5. Biofuel production shall contribute to the social and economic development of local, rural and indigenous peoples and communities.

Criteria and guidance on Rural and Social Development

Food Security

6. Biofuel production shall not impair food security.

Criteria and guidance on Food Security

Conservation and Biodiversity

7. Biofuel production shall avoid negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, and areas of High Conservation Value.

Criteria and guidance on Conservation and Biodiversity

Soil

8. Biofuel production shall promote practices that seek to improve soil health and minimize degradation.

Criteria and guidance on Soil

Water

9. Biofuel production shall optimize surface and groundwater resource use, including minimizing contamination or depletion of these resources, and shall not violate existing formal and customary water rights.

Criteria and guidance on Water

Air

10. Air pollution from biofuel production and processing shall be minimized along the supply chain.

Criteria and guidance on Air

Economic efficiency, technology, and continuous improvement

11. Biofuels shall be produced in the most cost-effective way. The use of technology must improve production efficiency and social and environmental performance in all stages of the biofuel value chain.

Criteria and guidance on Technologies

Land Rights

12. Biofuel production shall not violate land rights.

Criteria and guidance on Land Rights