While tensions are increasing worldwide and new priorities are being set, the sustainability of our energy and material supply remains more than necessary. For the reader of Biomass Facts this is a known fact, but how can we achieve this together.
From the international cooperation within the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and Mission Innovation I see this struggle from all countries. People want to do more for sustainability, but are hindered by international developments. Only from the government of the USA there was a clear signal that they no longer have a warm heart for this sustainability. Incidentally, this is in contrast to many companies from the USA and some states that continue to work hard on this.
Positive signals are also coming from various international organisations operating under the UN flag. For example, the aviation sector under ICAO has committed to blending 5% clean fuels (including SAF) worldwide in 2030, which will require 23 Mton of clean fuels [1]. This creates a huge market and with 5 years to go it is now important to realize the required production of these fuels. According to the ICAO website, 9 Mton of the requested 23 can be produced to date. There are also many initiatives worldwide for realization.
The global maritime sector, united in IMO, also [2] has made a net-zero emissions agreement for 2050, with a CO2 trading system, so that low-carbon fuels can play an important role within it. In October 2025, this will be formally ratified for seagoing vessels larger than 5000 tonnes, which currently cause 85% of all CO2 emissions from shipping.
In addition to the transport sector, more and more agreements are being made for industry worldwide. To this end, CEM and UNIDO have set up the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative [3] started, which has resulted in an ambitious plan for the steel and cement sector. In this plan, low carbon standards and market perspectives via “Green Public Procurement” are developed. Also, it is currently being examined with the CEM Biofuture Council [4] whether this approach can also be set up for the chemical industry. The Ministry of Climate and Green Growth is also actively working with several countries to come to a Joint Statement [4] about Sustainable Carbon for the chemical industry and hopes to interest countries outside Europe in this at COP30.
If I list all these positive developments, and also include the stimulation within the EU via RED and REFUEL, as well as ETS1 and ETS2, then it is almost incomprehensible that more industrial investments are not being made. I see many entrepreneurs interested in making things more sustainable, but they do not have enough confidence in politics and financial security to get the business case right now. Apparently, this still takes time to be able to take this investment step.
Countries we work with from our Integrated Biorefineries Mission, such as Brazil and India, but also China seem to have better conditions for biobased applications. This is because they already have a lot of biomanufacturing, but also see opportunities to increase production. For example, China will build SAF factories, and India and Brazil will build 2e Generation Bioethanol factories. From our mission we try to work with them, to learn, but also to generate opportunities for Dutch business.
And those opportunities are there; active cooperation with Brazil, but India also appears to offer good opportunities. Opportunities in India have been explored via the Biorefineries Mission and an Innovation mission and recorded via the Innovation Network and outlines opportunities for companies [5].
Despite the growing tensions and uncertainty, I remain hopeful for a good transition to a biobased economy. In June, the European Biomass ConferencE [6] organized, where the international progress is discussed. In May 2026 this conference will come to The Hague and the Dutch biobased community can present itself to the rest of the world.
At the moment, various companies and research institutes in the Netherlands are very active in the development and realization of the biobased economy. We can stimulate this domestically by strengthening the market by putting sustainable and biobased purchasing on the agenda everywhere. This can be done at the government, the municipality, but also at your (sports) club and at home. By also looking at our export opportunities, we can increase the impact and also economic opportunities. This requires cooperation and that is what we want to do from our Integrated Biorefineries Mission [7] support in offering. How we can best do that, we will have to fill in together. I therefore invite you to think about this with us during a workshop [8] which we will organize in Utrecht on the afternoon of June 25.
[1] Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
[2] IMO approves net-zero regulations for global shipping
[3] The Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative – Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator
[4] Joint Statement on a European Sustainable Carbon Policy Package | Report | Rijksoverheid.nl
[5] Netherlands-India Bioeconomy Opportunity Report
[6] EUBCE 2025 | 33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition – European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
[7] (13) Integrated Biorefineries Mission: Overview | LinkedIn
[8] Biorefineries for fuels, chemicals and materials: advancing international collaboration – platformbioeconomie.nl
About the author
Kees Kwant
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Kees Kwant is a Senior Expert on Bioenergy and Circular Biobased Economy at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), a department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate in the Netherlands. He primarily links researchers and industry to help develop the circular biobased economy and bioenergy in the Netherlands and abroad. He is Member CEM Biofuture Initiative and leads the Mission Innovation Mission Integrated Biorefineries as Mission Director.
