Italy
ENERGY
27 February, 2007
INTERVENTION OF ITALY
Mr Paolo Soprano
Italy subscribes the position already expressed by Germany on behalf of the EU and as the EU
Presidency as already highlighted, and has been remarked also by the distinguished delegate of
Pakistan on behalf of G77 and China, Italy would like to underscore that the increase of the use of
bioenergy is a key challenge to be tackled in the near future.
The sustainable use of bioenergy is indeed one of the more effective answers to climate change and
energy security challenges. In particular, biofuels represent the best option that could be deployed in
the short term to achieve environmentally sustainable transports.
However, the main challenge is to favour the access to bioenergy in a sustainable way in order to
avoid conflicts with food security, biodiversity protection and soil management, as well as negative
social impacts.
With this in mind, Italy would like to use this opportunity to recall the importance of
strengthening cooperation to maximize the benefit of bioenergy (including biofuels) ensuring
that it is produced and used in a sustainable manner, by defining and applying relevant
standards and safeguards. In this regard, the Global Bioenergy Partnership, launched by the
G8 plus five summit in Gleneagles in 2005 and led by Italy, offers the suitable context to
create a global policy dialogue on bioenergy and to favour more efficient and sustainable uses
of biomass.
Besides Governments, this Partnership has already involved important actors such as UNEP,
UNCTAD, UNDP, UN Foundation and FAO which also hosts its Secretariat.
We hope that this partnership, that is registered as a Type II Initiative, may become the mechanism
to organize, coordinate and implement targeted international research, development, demonstration
and commercial activities related to production, delivery conversion and use of biomass for energy,
with a particular focus on developing countries.
27 February, 2007
INTERVENTION OF ITALY
Mr Paolo Soprano
Italy subscribes the position already expressed by Germany on behalf of the EU and as the EU
Presidency as already highlighted, and has been remarked also by the distinguished delegate of
Pakistan on behalf of G77 and China, Italy would like to underscore that the increase of the use of
bioenergy is a key challenge to be tackled in the near future.
The sustainable use of bioenergy is indeed one of the more effective answers to climate change and
energy security challenges. In particular, biofuels represent the best option that could be deployed in
the short term to achieve environmentally sustainable transports.
However, the main challenge is to favour the access to bioenergy in a sustainable way in order to
avoid conflicts with food security, biodiversity protection and soil management, as well as negative
social impacts.
With this in mind, Italy would like to use this opportunity to recall the importance of
strengthening cooperation to maximize the benefit of bioenergy (including biofuels) ensuring
that it is produced and used in a sustainable manner, by defining and applying relevant
standards and safeguards. In this regard, the Global Bioenergy Partnership, launched by the
G8 plus five summit in Gleneagles in 2005 and led by Italy, offers the suitable context to
create a global policy dialogue on bioenergy and to favour more efficient and sustainable uses
of biomass.
Besides Governments, this Partnership has already involved important actors such as UNEP,
UNCTAD, UNDP, UN Foundation and FAO which also hosts its Secretariat.
We hope that this partnership, that is registered as a Type II Initiative, may become the mechanism
to organize, coordinate and implement targeted international research, development, demonstration
and commercial activities related to production, delivery conversion and use of biomass for energy,
with a particular focus on developing countries.
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