Consultation on proposed common methodological framework for GHG life cycle analysis of Bioenergy
Vienna, 02.11.2009 - James Smith
The Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), is seeking feedback and suggestions on a proposed "Common Methodological Framework for GHG Lifecycle Analysis of Bioenergy" which was released as 'Version 0' in June 2009.
GBEP's Task Force on GHG methodologies is now disseminating it for testing in order to produce an improved version in the near future.
The "Common Methodological Framework for GHG Lifecycle Analysis of Bioenergy" is a flexible checklist framework intended to provide a reference of pertinent questions for countries and institutions to compare the various existing methodologies dedicated to assessing GHG emissions of bioenergy systems in a transparent way. This in turn will indicate where discrepancies in reported GHG emissions could have arisen from methodological differences and hence a fair comparison is not possible.
The framework has been developed for several potential applications including governments that have implemented GHG emissions standards for biofuels and could thus present their methods in a manner that is transparent and intelligible to all stakeholders. It can also be applied by biofuels producers and manufacturers of products that use biofuels in order to support claims of GHG reductions relative to fossil fuels. Non-government organizations and roundtables can also make use of it to evaluate GHG reductions included in their sustainability analyses of biofuels.
REEEP's network has been invited to test the framework, by compiling it on the basis of methodologies in use and also ongoing or completed projects, disseminate it and provide GBEP with the completed questionnaire and feedback. The Framework is available on the GBEP website.