U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) Director of Global Sustainability Carlos Suárez and USGBC Multilateral Policy Manager Linda Schmid recently attended the United Nations’ annual climate summit, COP30, to share the advancements in responsible farming practices and the carbon-reduction capabilities of biofuels.
“Some major highlights were discussions around carbon markets, carbon accounting and the need for interoperability of life cycle analysis models,” Schmid said.
“Cohesive strategies and cooperation among countries help facilitate the cross-border flow of products, like biofuels, that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
In advance of the event, held in Belem, Brazil, the Council contributed to the International Energy Agency’s report, Delivering Sustainable Fuels Pathways to 2035, providing evidence in support of a global pledge to increase the use of sustainable fuels four-fold by 2035.
Suárez and Schmid addressed fellow attendees about ethanol’s applications for on-road, aviation and maritime transport as well as a fuel for clean cooking through speaking opportunities, pre-recorded videos and support of partners’ declarations that recognize the benefits of biofuels.
The Council participated in daily industry briefings with the International Chamber of Commerce, programming goals with the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) and biofuel roundtables with the Business Council on International Understanding. Schmid attended forums with the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, International Energy Agency and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) to secure engagement promoting international coordination on biofuel adoption.
In coordination with other agricultural community stakeholders in attendance, the Council organized a symposium in the Embrapa Agri Zone highlighting agriculturally based solutions in the decarbonization of transport, food security and energy access. The event showcased the efforts of agricultural producers to provide sustainable feedstocks that are developed into everyday products benefiting consumers and the environment.
“The Council’s engagement at COP30 enabled extended dialogue about the benefits of bioethanol to rural economies by reducing energy poverty and increasing farmer income, the backbone of energy and food security,” Schmid said.
“At COP, we were able to stoke demand for cross border flows of bioethanol as an immediate solution to decarbonization goals while highlighting the outstanding innovations farmers employ every day to reduce input costs on the farm.”
Learn more about the Council’s work in ethanol here.