ILUC Conference Agenda and Presentations

On November 9-10, 2009 the RSB co-hosted a workshop with IPIECA and UNEP in Lausanne, Switzerland on indirect land use change and biofuels, bringing together world experts on indirect impacts of biofuels to discuss the state of the science, and how to address and mitigate the risk of such impacts. As biofuel stakeholders increasingly point to the potential for large impacts resulting from off-farm, macroeconomic interactions amongst food, fodder, fuel, and fiber markets, the RSB remains committed to pushing forward the scientific debate on such impacts and determining the best way to mitigate negative indirect impacts, both in a voluntary standard, and through broader, policy-level mechanisms.

Among the numerous excellent presentations given during the course of the workshop, Ecofys International presented on a report commissioned by the RSB to study how different regulatory agencies address indirect impacts, and propose how the RSB should address such impacts in its standard.  Biofuel projects believed to be at lower risk of indirect impacts were presented, providing hopeful examples of how the RSB and regulatory agencies might address this complex problem.  Moving forward the RSB will continue to study the potential for indirect impacts from biofuels, and find means to address these impacts based on best available science.

For more information about the conference please contact rsb(at)epfl.ch


Meeting Agenda