Making biogas happen
Activity Report 2016–2018
worldbiogasassociation.org
Message from our President The World Biogas Association membership is 68 organisations strong. And when we say strong, we mean it. It’s been two years since we launched our association at COP22. Although we’re young we more than pack a punch. Our food waste report, produced in collaboration with C40 Cities, more than justifies that claim. It has been presented to governments around the world and influential UN and EU committees on climate change, food and agriculture, sustainable development and decarbonisation. Nothing more clearly shows the versatility of anaerobic digestion and biogas and how it stands at the heart of the circular economy. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We are entering a pivotal period that requires our urgent attention. As COP24 draws to a close the need for biogas could not be clearer if global temperature increases are to be kept below 1.5°C. Our industry has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 20%. Over the next two years countries need to commit to supporting biogas infrastructure across waste, agriculture, sanitation, energy and transport in
order to meet their respective nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. Demonstrating why requires us to double down on our activities to showcase what can be achieved with AD and biogas. We need to increase our campaigning work and channels of communication, we need to promote examples of best practice and the wider environmental services AD and biogas can deliver, we need to write reports addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Having made their commitments, countries and cities then urgently need our support to develop the policies that will allow them to deliver on those commitments and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The prize is a planet to live on. The process will turn us into a $1trn industry. This activity report demonstrates how your investment – in membership fees, industry intelligence and time – has allowed WBA to deliver on its brief to promote the global uptake of AD. Your continued support will allow us to take the next critical steps. David Newman, President World Biogas Association
What our members say… “As an international specialist in biogas to power technology, we joined WBA to help support the removal of international barriers to the uptake of biogas technology. I am pleased with the progress made, and I am looking forward to working with them in the future.” Alexander Marshall, Clarke Energy
“It is great that there is now an association like WBA who is committed to the biogas worldwide! It is necessary to share knowledge and to join hands. WBA has a very enthusiastic and driven team. As an international company with various offices around the world, we are very happy to be part of WBA so we can create a clear and prosperous future together.” Harmen Dekker, DMT Environmental Technology
In May 2018, in partnership with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group - Food, Water and Waste Programme, WBA published a landmark report on urban food waste, its environmental impact and the benefits of separately collecting it, treating it and recycling it through anaerobic digestion (pictured – WBA President (right) with the Mayor of Rotterdam at the launch). The report also featured a how-to section for improving municipalities’ food waste management. WBA and C40 have since been presenting the report to the United Nations and cities and regions of the world. In August 2018, 23 cities and regions signed C40’s Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration, committing to avoid disposal of at least 87 million tons of waste by 2030.
Achievements See the highlights of our achievements since our launch in November 2016.
Influencing world decision-makers We engaged with leading international figures and organisations, including: • Patricia Espinosa, General Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to which David Newman presented the Global Food Waste Management report • The United Nations High Level Forum on Sustainable Development • Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysian Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change • The High-level Panel of the European Decarbonisation Pathways Initiative • The British Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden • Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of Environment and Water Resources for Singapore • Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam • Masatoshi Akimoto, Japan Parliamentarian Additionally, our member Alexander Marshall of Clarke Energy joined a British delegation led by UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, to explore business opportunities in Africa.
We were also proud to be accepted as an Actor in the UNEP Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Building a global network We have worked with international partners to create global business opportunities for WBA members, including: • Cooperating with industry associations in the UK (Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association), the USA (American Biogas Council; Bioenergy Association of California), Australia (Australian Organics Recycling Association), Italy (Consorzio Italiano Compostatori), South Africa (Southern African Biogas Industries Association) to promote biogas in their region and worldwide • Partnering with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group to deliver webinars on plant operator best practice and urban food waste management for cities including Athens, Auckland, Berlin, Lagos, Los Angeles, Rotterdam, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, Vancouver and Venice • Hosting members’ meetings throughout the world as a platform for members to engage with each other, learn about their products and services and build partnerships • Organising site visits to see practical examples of treating biodegradable urban, animal and sewage waste • Sharing exhibition stand space with members at major international events such as WasteCon in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Ecomondo in Italy
WBA and SABIA (Southern African Biogas Industries Association) teamed up on a webinar and on presenting at WasteCon 2018 in Johannesburg. At the event, the two associations signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formally establishing a partnership to promote biogas in South Africa and worldwide.
Achievements A summary of World Biogas Association’s achievements since our founding in November 2016.
Building profile WBA membership enabled members to develop their international profile by providing: • Discounts on exhibiting at UK AD and World Biogas Expo, the leading tradeshow coorganised by WBA • Opportunities to speak and share exhibition space at major international events such as International Biogas Congress & Expo in (Berlin), WasteCon (South Africa), International Solid Waste Summit (China), RedBioLAC (Argentina)
Harmen Dekker, DMT Environmental Technology, spoke at the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference IGEM in Malaysia • Professional help on writing and getting members’ articles published • Media coverage of press releases and member news in over 30 trade publications
• PR opportunities across WBA newsletter, website updates, press releases and social media posts • Use of the WBA Member logo as part of members’ corporate branding
“Over the next two years countries need to commit to supporting biogas infrastructure across waste, agriculture, sanitation, energy and transport in order to meet their respective nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. Demonstrating why requires us to double down on our activities to showcase what can be achieved with AD and biogas.”
Sharing market intelligence We have published research and launched activities to support the industry’s international growth and meet our members’ business development needs. These included: • A landmark report “Global Food Waste Management – an Implementation Guide for Cities”, published in partnership with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
• Country market reports on Australia, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland and the United States • Factsheets and reports on the role of biogas in climate change, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and urban air quality • Webinars on regulation and case studies in South Africa and Italy, co-organised with local partners • Short-courses to train business leaders on the Global Methane Initiative • Daily online research to share the latest industry trends and news • A new members’ area on the WBA website for members to access exclusive market information and share business information among themselves
Promoting WBA worldwide Meanwhile, WBA staff promoted the association by speaking at international events, including: • The International Conference on Waste (Greece) • Total Food Conference (UK) • The Biogas Convention (Germany) • Biogaz Europe, National Food Waste Conference (UK) • The International Conference on Waste Management (Italy) • The CleanEnviro Summit (Singapore) • WasteEng (Czech Recpublic) • The Pyhäjärvi Institute (Finland)
Our aims • Raise awareness and provide evidence of the industry’s ability to contribute towards the development of a sustainable economy • Advocate global policy and regulatory change to enable full growth • Facilitate international business cooperation and the development of business relationships • Inform business decisions through market research and updates on international industry trends • Attract investment into the industry, and into research and development • Provide operational support through the promotion of best practice, innovation and research
What’s next? We achieved major success in 2016 to 2018. With your support, we will continue on this path. But we don’t stop there. We have goals to achieve above and beyond over the next years.
In the next year…
• Combat climate change by ensuring biogas is included in the top 50 emitting countries’ plans for meeting their Paris Agreement commitments (via Nationally Determined Contributions – NDCs and their UN SDGs) – this is the most urgent • Launch an e-magazine, cementing WBA as the go-to place for industry news, data, case studies and advocacy • Produce our 2nd global research report • Continue publication of our industry leading country market reports • Produce tools for educating politicians and the general public • Host the 1st World Biogas Summit
In the next year 3 years…
• Grow WBA membership to 1,000 members • Help make biogas a global brand
By 2030…
Ecomondo is a world-leading expo in Italy that brings together all sectors of the circular economy. WBA arranged for a shared exhibition stand there for four of its member organisations – thus reducing costs for each participant while giving them industry exposure.
WBA site visits demonstrated biogas technologies and policies in action.
• Get 100 countries recycling food waste through anaerobic digestion • Help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, by restoring soils through the recycling of nutrients, organic matter, and carbon • Improve air quality by substituting fossil fuel with biomethane in vehicles and by substituting solid fuel for domestic cooking and heat with biogas, helping achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11
By 2050…
• By recycling farm wastes and slurries, food waste and other organic wastes together with energy crops through anaerobic digestion, replacing chemical fertilisers with natural fertiliser, and using biogas in housing, buildings and transport, contribute 20% of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions required to meet the Paris Agreement aim of “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
We’re only a phone call or e-mail away Have a question about your membership? Contact Roberta Bontempo at +44 (0) 203 176 4414 and rbontempo@worldbiogasassociation.org
Seeking advice? Want to get connected to influential contacts? Reach out to our president, David Newman, at dnewman@worldbiogasassociation.org
Sustainable Bankside, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ, UK | worldbiogasassociation.org | info@worldbiogasasscoiation.org |
@WBAtweets World Biogas Association