Advancing a nature-positive approach to sustainable biofuels
Building on initial discussions launched in October 2025, a second technical meeting convened government representatives, international organizations, private sector actors, and experts to refine priority areas of work and shape the next phase of collaboration.
Strengthening collaboration across regions
Participants highlighted the growing value of cooperation between IUCN, UNECE, Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE), and a broader network of partners working on renewable energy and decarbonization.
Discussions underscored the importance of sharing regional experiences, integrating biofuels within wider sustainable energy systems, and adopting a flexible, gap-filling approach that builds on existing initiatives rather than duplicating them.
From scoping to action
The meeting reviewed a draft scoping document developed following the initial dialogue. Three priority areas emerged:
- Co-benefits of biofuels, including environmental, social, economic, and biodiversity outcomes
- Nature-based solutions, such as sustainable biomass sourcing, landscape restoration, and ecosystem enhancement
- Regulatory frameworks, including mapping policies, incentives, and sustainability safeguards
Participants agreed to prioritise work on regulatory frameworks in the coming months, alongside the development of a summary document to inform IUCN Members and support policy uptake.
Navigating a complex regulatory landscape
A central theme of the discussions was the fragmentation of standards and regulations across countries and fuel types. Participants explored opportunities to:
- Map and classify existing standards and best practices
- Leverage tools and guidance from organizations such as the International Energy Agency
- Promote peer-to-peer learning and dialogue across regions
- Strengthening coherence across regulatory approaches was identified as a key step toward scaling sustainable biofuels.
As Aldo Celasco, IUCN Project Officer, noted, “Our immediate priority is a clear, comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks. This will give policymakers and industry a shared foundation for action.”
Learning from regional experience
Insights from Be8 Energy and representatives from the Government of Brazil highlighted the value of long-standing national experience and integrated approaches.
Brazil’s leadership in ethanol and biodiesel production demonstrated the importance of aligning government policy, industry engagement, and agricultural practices. Discussions also emphasised the need to tailor sustainability criteria to regional contexts, particularly in tropical landscapes.
Looking ahead, partners aim to deepen engagement across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and North America.
Engaging the private sector
Private sector perspectives—from IPIECA and BP—highlighted emerging trends in feedstocks, intermediate crops, and certification challenges.
Participants called for more industry case studies and proposed a future questionnaire to better understand regulatory barriers and investment needs across regions.
Strengthening nature-related reporting
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) presented new guidance on alternative fuels, prompting discussion on how to better assess nature-related dependencies and impacts.
The exchange highlighted the importance of value chain approaches and circular economy thinking in strengthening sustainability outcomes.
Looking ahead to COP31
Participants agreed to work toward a joint side event at COP31, focusing on regulatory frameworks and best practices for sustainable biofuels.
Key next steps include:
- Advancing analysis of regulatory frameworks
- Mapping existing initiatives and amplifying best practices
- Exploring a private sector task force to support collaboration and investment
- Engaging stakeholders in the ongoing TNFD consultation
- Preparing a new IUCN biofuels issue brief
As the energy transition accelerates, these efforts aim to ensure that biofuels contribute not only to decarbonisation, but also to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable development.
This article has been republished from The IUCN.com