South American associations sign manifesto in defense of the integrated advancement of biofuels

The entities representing the biofuels sector in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay launched this Thursday (27/10) the Manifesto in Defense of Biofuels as a way of expressing the firm conviction that it is essential that all governments promote, comprehensively, the energy transition strategy for the development of the sector, both for vehicular transport, air, river and sea.

The Manifesto highlights the importance of defining regulatory frameworks that guarantee the advancement of investments in biofuels and scientific and technological research so that countries can fulfill the commitments made for decarbonization in the Paris Agreement, taking advantage of the capabilities of their agricultural and livestock chains.

“South America has fundamental resources to be a world leader in the production of clean and renewable energy, helping to reduce dependence on fossil energy to drive the economy. However, this attribute is far from being explored in its immense potential to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from crucial sectors such as urban, interurban, river, sea and air transport”, highlights the Manifesto.

The associations highlight the importance of urgent actions by governments, companies and the community to boost the energy transition. “We need leaders and parliaments committed to this new agenda and a clear regional roadmap that can responsibly combine the different technological routes for the energy transition. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the most ambitious sustainability agenda we can imagine.”

The initiative represents a milestone for entities to begin acting in line with the construction of an action plan that supports the aviation, maritime transport and heavy transport sectors in overcoming the challenges of decarbonization.

At the end of the document, the entities establish their main targets:

• We defend the creation of stable regulatory frameworks and clear rules that provide the necessary legal certainty to increase investment in the sector and, therefore, the expansion of productive capacity and the industrialization of rural areas in the Americas.
• We defend clear roadmaps and long-term energy planning that confirm the states' choices and raise investor confidence.
• We defend the creation of a regional energy transition plan in terms of financing and political alignment in the face of climate change and the resources that the region has to face it.
• We advocate that the governments of South American countries, together with civil society, the business sector and international partners, take bolder measures in line with the magnitude of opportunities and challenges faced by the region and the world.
• We advocate that Latin America becomes a region with a completely clean, renewable and sustainable fuel matrix by 2050 through firm, gradual and inexorable commitments.

Signatory entities

Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE)

Association of Biofuel Producers of Brazil (APROBIO)

Alcohols of Uruguay (ALUR)

Argentine Biofuels Chamber (CARBIO)

Chamber of Industry Aceitera Argentina (CIARA)

Maiz Bioethanol Chamber

Paraguayan Chamber of Biofuels and Renewable Energy (BIOCAP)

Panamerican Chamber of Advanced Biofuels (CAPBA)

Argentine Sugar Center (CAA)

National Federation of Biofuels of Colombia (FedeBiocombustibles)

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

National Corn Ethanol Union (UNEM)

Union of the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry (Unica)