Sustainable fuels play an important role by complementing direct electrification and energy efficiency measures to reduce emissions from parts of transport and industry, while providing energy diversification, security, and economic development opportunities.
Demand for sustainable biofuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and biomethane, is set to expand by 2030, but remains below levels required to meet ambitious emissions reduction goals. Accelerated deployment depends on achieving a global vision for sustainable fuels, innovation to expand production potential, and effective policies to close the cost gap supported by transparent and science-based carbon accounting.
Sustainable fuels and carbon accounting were both prominently featured last year on Brazil’s G20 action agenda, culminating on a High-Level Dialogue on “Performance-based Sustainability Assessments and Frameworks”, supported by the 2024 IEA’s report “Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels”. Sustainable biofuels and carbon accounting will also continue to be part of this year’s COP30 Presidency’s cross-sectoral agenda.
To build upon and complement these efforts, the IEA and the Biofuture Platform Initiative have organized a side event on “Creating Demand for Sustainable Biofuels” within the CEM16/MI-10, which will take place in Busan, Korea, from 25 to 27 August, alongside the APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting and the World Climate Industry Expo 2025.
The IEA and Biofuture Platform Initiative are hosting this event with the aim of elaborating on the priorities identified at the G20 meeting and the IEA April workshop on sustainable fuels:
- Recognising the critical role of creating public procurement programmes.
- Need to expand trade.
- Support biofuel innovation.
- Strengthening international collaboration on carbon accounting.
The objective of the event, which will be held on Monday 25 August (11-12 local time), is to serve as a key milestone on the road to COP30, helping build momentum for high-level recognition of the importance of sustainable fuels.
