(TORONTO) Today, Bliss Baker, the President of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), congratulated the 130 countries that took the next step towards implementing the Paris Agreement by formally signing the climate accord at the UN Headquarters in New York. The governments of these countries will now have one year to ratify the accord.

The Paris Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of total global greenhouse gas emissions have finalized their adoption of the accord.

“These countries are to be commended for their leadership in committing to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80 percent by 2050” Baker said. “It is our hope that today’s signing ceremony will accelerate the passage of legislation in countries around the world that begins the shift to a low-carbon future,” he added.

In a significant move, on March 31 US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to historic reductions in GHG emissions. President Obama pledged that the US would cut its emissions by 26 percent by 2025 compared with 2005 levels. In turn, President Jinping promised that China’s emissions would peak by 2030 and fall after that, the first time China has agreed to any emission reduction targets.

Nearly a third of global GHGs come from the transportation sector making it a key area of focus in efforts to reduce emissions. Studies have shown that biofuels, like ethanol, are proven to reduce harmful GHGs from 40% to 90% compared to fossil fuels.

“It is clear that the biofuels industry generally, and ethanol specifically, will continue to have a significant role to play in international efforts to transition away from carbon-intensive fossil fuels in the transport sector” Baker said. “As countries look to take policy steps to reduce GHG emissions in their transport sectors, the GRFA will continue to provide technical support for the adoption of ethanol-supportive policies that will maximize the advantages of biofuel technologies” he concluded.

The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuel friendly policies internationally. Alliance members represent over 90% of global biofuels productions. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, Alliance members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint.

For more information please contact:

Bliss Baker, President, Global Renewable Fuels Alliance

Telephone: (Country Code “1”) 647 309-0058

Email: [email protected]

Please visit our website at:
www.globalrfa.org

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