A new World Biogas Summit will put anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas at the heart of sustainable development and high on the agenda of politicians and policymakers in the UK and around the globe, according to joint organisers the World Biogas Association (WBA) and the UK Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA).
Taking place in Birmingham, UK on the 3rd-4th July 2019, the summit will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and case studies involving leaders and expert speakers from the field of sustainable development. Up to 500 delegates are expected to attend from governments, municipalities, industry, academia, and international organisations from the UK and around the world. The summit will take place alongside UK AD & World Biogas Expo 2019, the largest international tradeshow dedicated to AD and biogas.
Discussions at the summit will centre around the industry’s contribution to tackling climate change and meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) across waste management, energy, transport, agriculture, air and water quality, and soil health, as well as how to stimulate the growth of the industry through policy, finance, technological innovation, and public engagement.
AD and biogas technologies convert organic wastes and purpose-grown crops into renewable heat and power, clean transport fuel, and nutrient-rich natural fertiliser. It is estimated that they can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20 percent worldwide, as well as meeting a range of sustainable development policy goals, as set out by the WBA in a dedicated report.
“This exciting global thought-leadership summit, which we believe to be the first of its kind for our industry, will put AD and biogas at the heart of sustainable development worldwide and highlight the role it can play in tackling climate change and meeting nine of the 17 UN SDGs” said WBA President David Newman. “We need to act fast: the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us we only have 12 years to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate change, so this is a particularly crucial time for us to host this summit and showcase the impact our industry can have in providing solutions across multiple sectors. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming leading international figures to discuss how we can consolidate the growth of the industry and lower barriers to its rollout. In doing so, we will take a major step towards improving environmental and human wellbeing in every country in the world.”
ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton, added that in the UK, a vibrant AD industry is critical to reducing emissions from difficult-to-decarbonise sectors such as heat, transport, and agriculture and to allowing the UK to meet its ambitious Carbon Budgets and tackle climate change. AD has the potential to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent whilst meeting 30 percent of domestic gas demand and creating 35,000 rural jobs, as well as providing a treatment option for organic wastes.
“The new World Biogas Summit will be the perfect opportunity for the UK to showcase its world-leading expertise in AD and learn from the experience of others around the world” Ms Morton said.
For additional information:
Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA)
