Global Bioenergy Partnership

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General

Name of initiative Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP)
LPAA initiative No
NAZCA Initiative No
Website address http://www.globalbioenergy.org
Related initiatives
Starting year 2006
End year
Secretariat Global Bioenergy Partnership, FAO, Climate and Environment Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy, phone:+39 06 57052834, e-mail:

GBEP-Secretariat@fao.org

Organisational structure The Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) is an international initiative established to implement the commitments taken by the G8 in the 2005 Gleneagles Plan of Action to support “biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries where biomass use is prevalent”. Its mandate was renewed by subsequent G8/G7 and G20 Summits. As of today, GBEP brings together, as Partners and Observers, fifty-one national governments and twenty-seven international organizations, under the co-chairmanship of Italy and Brazil. The Steering Committee, formed by representatives of all Partners, governs the overall framework, policies, procedures and activities of the Partnership. Technical Task Forces and Working Groups are established from time to time in light of the agreed programme of work.
Geographical coverage Global
Name of lead organisation Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) in FAO
Type of lead organisation International organisation
Location/Nationality of lead organisation Italy

Description

Description GBEP is a forum where voluntary cooperation works towards consensus amongst governments, intergovernmental organizations and other partners to advance bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and food and energy security. It also provides a platform for raising awareness, sharing information and examples of good practice on bioenergy.
Objectives The main objectives of the Global Bioenergy Partnership are to:

• promote global high-level dialogue on bioenergy policy-related issues and facilitate international cooperation; • support national and regional bioenergy policy discussions and market development; • favour the transformation of biomass use towards more efficient and sustainable practices; • foster exchange of information and skills through bilateral and multilateral collaboration; and • facilitate bioenergy integration into energy markets by tackling barriers in the supply chain.

Activities GBEP has agreed upon a set of 24 voluntary, science-based sustainability indicators for bioenergy. GBEP has also developed a common methodological framework for use in measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from bioenergy. GBEP is currently working on capacity building activities and projects for sustainable bioenergy, including through the implementation of its sustainability indicators and methodological framework on GHG emissions.
One or two success stories achieved In 2011 GBEP agreed a set of 24 relevant, practical, science-based, voluntary sustainability indicators for bioenergy. This agreement involved 45 Countries and 22 International Organizations. The indicators are intended to guide any analysis undertaken of bioenergy at the domestic level with a view to informing decision making and facilitating the sustainable development of bioenergy. Measured over time, the indicators will show progress towards or away from a sustainable development path, as determined nationally. The GBEP indicators are currently in the implementation phase. As of October 2018, the GBEP indicators have been implemented in twelve countries (Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands, Paraguay and Vietnam). Four countries are currently in the process of implementing the indicators (Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uruguay) and Germany is currently implementing the indicators for a second time. In light of the lessons learned, GBEP has been working on the development of an Implementation Guide on the use of the GBEP Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy to improve their practicality and related guidance for users.

Monitoring and Impacts

Function of initiative Technical dialogue, Capacity building, Political dialogue, Implementation
Activity of initiative Advocacy, Training and education, Knowledge dissemination and exchange, Policy planning and recommendations, Awareness raising and outreach, Technical operational implementation (ex-post)
Indicators
Goals GBEP is actively working to advance bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and food and energy security. To this end, GBEP has agreed upon a set of 24 voluntary, science-based sustainability indicators for bioenergy. GBEP has also developed a common methodological framework for use in measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from bioenergy. GBEP is currently working on capacity building activities and projects for sustainable bioenergy, including through the implementation of its sustainability indicators and methodological framework on GHG emissions.
Comments on indicators and goals
How will goals be achieved 1. Facilitating the sustainable development of bioenergy

In December 2011 GBEP agreed upon a set of 24 relevant, practical, science-based, voluntary sustainability indicators for bioenergy. These indicators and the respective methodology sheets, which address the production and use of all forms of bioenergy, are intended to guide any analysis of bioenergy undertaken at the domestic level with a view to informing decision making and facilitating the sustainable development of bioenergy. The GBEP sustainability indicators for bioenergy and the related report are the result of the work of the Task Force on Sustainability that GBEP established in June 2008 under the leadership initially of the United Kingdom and then (since November 2010) of Sweden. The GBEP sustainability indicators also take on the work of the GBEP Task Force on GHG Methodologies (established in October 2007 under the joint leadership of the United States and the UN Foundation) and specifically on “The GBEP Common Methodological Framework for GHG Lifecycle Analysis of Bioenergy” released in January 2011 for the use of policymakers and stakeholders when assessing GHG emissions associated with bioenergy. The GBEP work on sustainability indicators responds directly to the mandates GBEP received from G7/G20 Leaders in the last few years and facilitates the implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also represents a contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4All). The GBEP indicators are currently in the implementation phase. As of June 2018, the GBEP indicators had been implemented in twelve countries (i.e. Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands, Paraguay and Viet Nam) and additional five countries were in the process of implementing them (see map in the Annex). Since 2015, in light of the lessons learned collected, the GBEP Task Force on Sustainability (currently under the leadership of Egypt, Ghana, Italy and Japan) has been working on the development of an Implementation Guide on the use of the GBEP Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy, to improve their practicality and related guidance for users.

2. Facilitating capacity building for sustainable bioenergy In May 2011 GBEP established a Working Group on Capacity Building for Sustainable Bioenergy, initially co-led by The Netherlands and the United States of America and then (since December 2013) by Argentina and ECOWAS. The Group aims to raise awareness of the potential benefits of sustainable modern bioenergy building on the work previously developed by GBEP and to facilitate collaboration among its Partners and Observers. The Working Group has been focusing on the followings:  Sustainable Modern Bioenergy in the ECOWAS region. Five forums were organized with the aim to initiate a regional dialogue to support the development of regional and national bioenergy strategies, with a view to further facilitate effective policy planning for a sustainable bioenergy sector in the region. This activity supported the development of a Regional Strategy on Bioenergy that was adopted by ECOWAS Ministers of Energy at the end of 2012 and validated by ECOWAS Governments in September 2015.  Raise awareness and share data and experience on the implementation of GBEP indicators. Several workshops were organized over the last years to share very interesting experiences and lessons learned from the pilot testing of the GBEP sustainability indicators in various countries. These events highlighted that the indicators are useful tools to catalyze flow of data from the bioenergy sector to research and government that will then use it to develop policies to guide the industry practices.  Study Tour for Capacity Building. Bioenergy Weeks are organized in different regions of the world as opportunities for scientists and officials to learn from positive experiences in the sustainable production and use of bioenergy that could guide the design and implementation of bioenergy policies. Furthermore they create opportunities to continue a dialogue with private sector and stakeholders on ways to improve mutual cooperation towards a more sustainable production and use of bioenergy. Bioenergy Weeks, focused on the priorities and concerns of the respective regions, were held in Brasil (2013), Mozambique (2014), Indonesia (2015), Hungary (2016), Ghana (2016) and Argentina in October 2018.  Sustainable modern wood energy development, to discuss sustainable production and use of wood energy for household and productive local uses, primarily in developing countries. A report was developed to give an overview of the status of wood energy development in developing countries. Further discussions on the recommendations included in this wood energy report and on how GBEP could contribute to address those recommendations followed, as well as a Workshop in Benin (May 2016) to share best practices and learn from positive experiences in the field of wood energy management in Africa.  Capacity building and activities on bioenergy mapping. GBEP discussed about the role of mapping to collect relevant information for the measurement of the GBEP indicators and contributed to populate the IRENA Global Bioenergy Atlas.  Bioenergy and Water. Between 2014 and 2017 GBEP has been working to identify and disseminate ways of integrating bioenergy systems into agriculture and forestry landscapes to improve sustainable management of water resources.  Biogas. Newly establish group to share best practices and lessons learned in the biogas sector.  Discussions on capacity building and activities on advanced biofuels.

Have you changed or strenghtened your goals
Progress towards the goals
How are you tracking progress of your initiative
Available reporting GBEP (2005). Global Bioenergy Partnership - White Paper.

GBEP (2007). A review of the current state of bioenergy development in G8 +5 Countries. GBEP (2009). The GBEP common methodological framework for GHG lifecycle analysis of bioenergy - Version Zero. GBEP (2010). The GBEP common methodological framework for GHG lifecycle analysis of bioenergy - Version One. GBEP (2011). The Global Bioenergy Partnership Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy. GBEP/GIZ (2015). Towards sustainable modern wood energy development. Stocktaking paper on successful initiatives in developing countries in the field of wood energy development. GBEP/IEA Bioenergy (2016). Examples of Positive Bioenergy and Water Relationships.

Participants

Participants Number Names
Members 38  
Companies 0
Business organisations 0
Research and educational organisations 0
Non-governmental organisations 0
National states 23 Argentina,  Brazil,  Canada,  China,  Colombia,  Fiji Islands,  France,  Germany,  Ghana,  Italy,  Japan,  Mauritania,  Mexico,  Netherlands,  Paraguay,  Russian Federation,  Spain,  Sudan,  Sweden,  Switzerland,  Tanzania,  United Kingdom,  USA.
Governmental actors 0
Regional / state / county actors 0
City / municipal actors 0
Intergovernmental organisations 15 African Energy Commission - AFREC (Algeria),  Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS (Nigeria),  European Commission (Belgium),  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO (Italy),  Inter-American Development Bank - IDB (USA),  International Energy Agency - IEA (France),  International Renewable Energy Agency - IRENA (United Arab Emirates),  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development - UNCTAD (Switzerland),  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Kenya),  United Nations Development Programme (USA),  United Nations Environment Programme - UNEP (Kenya),  United Nations Industrial Development Organization - UNIDO (Austria),  United Nations Foundation (USA),  World Council for Renewable Energy (Germany),  European Biomass Industry Association (Belgium)
Financial Institutions 0
Faith based organisations 0
Other members 0 A further 28 countries and 12 International Organizations and institutions are participating as Observers: Angola,  Australia,  Austria,  Cambodia,  Chile,  Denmark,  Egypt,  El Salvador,  Ethiopia,  Gambia,  India,  Indonesia,  Kenya,  Jamaica,  Lao PDR,  Madagascar,  Malaysia,  Morocco,  Mozambique,  Norway,  Panama,  Philippines,  Peru,  Rwanda,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Tunisia,  Viet Nam,  Zimbabwe,  African Development Bank - AfDB (Ivory Coast),  Asian Development Bank - ADB (Philippines),  Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean - ECLAC (Chile),  European Environment Agency (Denmark),  Global Environment Facility (USA),  International Civil Aviation Organization - ICAO (Canada),  International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD (Italy),  Organization of American States - OAS (USA),  Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine - UEMOA (Burkina Faso),  World Agroforestry Centre - ICRAF (Kenya),  World Business Council on Sustainable Development - WBCSD (Switzerland).
Supporting partners 0
Number of members in the years
2019
80
Have only national states as participators No


Theme

Transport Agriculture Forestry Business Financial institutions Buildings Industry Waste Cities and subnational governments Short Term Pollutants International maritime transport Energy Supply Fluorinated gases Energy efficiency Renewable energy Supply chain emission reductions Adaptation Other Resilience Innovation Energy Access and Efficiency Private Finance
No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No
Last update: 30 October 2019 15:45:17

Not only have national states as participators