Profundo - Biofuels

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Governments from Europe and the United States see an important answer for the climate problem in the stimulation of biofuels. An easy answer, as the partly replacement of fossilfuels by biofuels demands large changes in our transportsystem and way of living. But the largescale stimulations of biofuels causes the chopping down of forests to make a way for plantations in palmoil, soy and sugercanes. The environmental and social consequences are immense, moreover because the prices of foodproducts will be under pressure as the demand for biofuels increases.

Profundo researches which companies are involved with the production of and trade in biofuels and who finances them. Profundo also analyses the consequences for humans and the environment caused by the government stimulations for biofuels.

Date	Projects
1 June 2005 Biofuels, Government regulation, Palm oil	Palm oil for electricity and biofuel Study on the effects of the use of palm oil as biofuel and a source of electricity. Client: Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie)
19 May 2008 Banks, Biofuels, Palm oil, Soy, Sugar	European banks financing agrofuels in Latin America Research into the involvement of European banks in the financing of the production of biofuels and the commodities which are used for them (soy, palm oil, sugar) in Latin America. Client: Friends of the Earth Europe Document(s): Ethical Corporation: Banks fuelling argument, August 2008 Ethical Corporation: Is it a happy fifth birthday for the Equator Principles?, August 2008 Report FoE Europe: European financing of agrofuel production in Latin America, May 2008 Press release FoE Europe: European banks financing damaging agrofuels in Latin America, 19 May 2008
9 October 2008 Biofuels	Subsidies for biofuels in the Netherlands Research into subsidies for biofuels in the Netherlands. Client: Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie)
28 November 2008 Biofuels, Soy	Soy consumption for feed and fuel in the European Union Research on the consumption of soy and agrofuels in the EU. Information about import soy, consumption of soy, consumption of relevant livestock products, use of agrofuels, land use abroad - based upon soy and agrofuel consumption - and projected use of transport fuels. Client: Friends of the Earth Europe Document(s): Press release Friends of the Earth Europe: New research reveals European land grab in developing countries, 28 November 2008 Report: Soy consumption for feed and fuel in the European Union, November 2008 Briefing Friends of the Earth Europe: The Great European Land Grab, November 2008
10 April 2009 Biofuels, Climate change, Palm oil, Soy, Timber	50 Companies with a large Forest Footprint In this report 50 companies with a major global forest footprint are selected. The companies are not belonging to the Fortune Global 500, but nevertheless are leading producers in five sectors which are known to have a significant impact on forests worldwide. These sectors are: forestry worldwide, oilpalm in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, and soy,beef and bio-ethanol in South America. Client: Global Canopy Programme
9 July 2009 Biofuels	Overview of the global bio-energy markets An overview of the current global biofuels market, in terms of the main producer countries, the main production companies and their customers, and the current investment climate for new biofuels projects and facilities. Client: Greenpeace International
2 September 2008 Banks, Biofuels, Oil & gas, Renewable energy, Sustainable management	Financing of fossil fuels and renewable energy by Canadian banks This report makes an assessment of the roles played by the top five Canadian bank groups (Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, TD Bank, TMO and CIBC) and by two smaller banks (Desjardins Bank and Vancity Group/Citizens Bank) in the financing of renewable energy and oil,gas and coal production worldwide. Because of this report the website Climate Friendly Banking was launched where Canadian bank customers can see if their bank is sustainable: Client: Rainforest Action Network
24 January 2009 Biofuels	Biofuels campaign - evaluation 2008 and options for the future Evaluation of Milieudefensie's (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) campaign concerning biofuels. Client: Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie)
1 May 2008 Biofuels	European financing of agrofuel production in Latin America Profundo has made a first overview of the involvement of private European financial institutions in the financing of companies producing and trading palm oil, soybeans and sugar in Latin America, as well as companies processing these feedstocks into agrofuels in Latin America. Thirteen companies involved in this sector were found to have linkages with 44 European financial institutions from ten European countries... Client: Friends of the Earth Europe
24 September 2009 Banks, Biofuels, Palm oil, Pulp & paper	The financing of the Sinar Mas Group Which public and private financial institutions have provided new financing to the forest-related activities of the Indonesian Sinar Mas Group (and its subsidiaries) since the financial collapse of Asia Pulp & Paper in 2001? Shareholders, bondholders and banks. This research points out to what degree they are involved. Client: Greenpeace UK
14 May 2010 Banks, Biofuels	Public and private sector finance in the bioenergy sector Which companies are financially involved in the bioenergy sector in Indonesia, Madagascar, China and Russia? In this report the major companies involved in feedstock growing and biofuel production in the country concerned are identified. For each of these companies an assessment is made of their financial stakeholders. Client: WWF International, WWF United States
11 March 2010 Banks, Biofuels	Biofuel investments in forest-rich countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa: compendium of 20 case studies Globally investments in biofuels have increased in the last ten years. The economic consequences of these investments are especially big in forest-rich countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. But biofuels also have negative consequences as it leads to deforestation and social tensions between countries. This research project is aiming to gain insights regarding investment patterns, the origins of investments flows and the major financiers in this sector. Client: Center for International Forestry Research
11 March 2010 Banks, Biofuels	Analysis of Global and Regional Trends and Scenarios in Bioenergy Trade and Investment in Forest-Rich Countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa Globally investments in biofuels have increased in the last ten years. The economic consequences of these investments are especially big in forest-rich countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. But biofuels also have negative consequences as it leads to deforestation and social tensions between countries. This study analyses the global and regional trends of biofuel trade and investment in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Client: Center for International Forestry Research
28 May 2010 Banks, Biofuels, Coal, Oil & gas	Financing of coal mining by Belgian banks This report analyses the financial contribution of several Belgian banks to the financing of the largest coal mining companies around the world in 2008 and 2009. Also their contribution to energygiants such as Shell and E.ON and palm oil company Wilmar International is being discussed. Client: Netwerk Vlaanderen
22 May 2009 Banks, Biofuels, Export Credit Agencies	Financing of bioenergy by the EIB and European ECAs This report aims to provide an overview of the involvement of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European export credit agencies (ECAs) in the financing of bioenergy projects worldwide. These financing activities are put in perspective by comparing them with total financial flows in the bioenergy sector worldwide. Also an initial assessment is made whether the projects financed by the EIB and European ECAs meet the sustainability criteria for bioenergy set by the European Union. Client: FERN Document(s): Briefing Note: Snake oil or climate cure: The effect of public funding on European bioenergy
1 April 2009 Asset managers, Banks, Biofuels	German and multilateral financial institutions in the bioenergy sector Report about the way in which German banks and multilateral financial institutions with German involvement invest in the bioenergy sector and select their clients. Client: German NGO Platform on Sustainable Biomass Document(s): Report German and multilateral financial institutions in the bioenergy sector (German version) Report German and multilateral financial institutions in the bioenergy sector