Maria Michela Morese is the Executive Secretary of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) Secretariat. She is responsible for the development of the GBEP program of work and its related field projects.
Previously she worked for six years for the Government of Italy as negotiator in various international environmental processes.
Michela holds a degree in Political Science-International Relations and a post graduate certificate in International Protection of Fundamental Human Rights from La Sapienza University in Rome, as well as a Master in Environmental Governance and a PhD in Forest Ecology from La Tuscia University in Viterbo.
Maria Michela Morese talks with the Eurasia Diary in an exclusive interview on 7th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development.
Eurasia Diary: First of all, let us know about this Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), what is this project?
Maria Michela Morese: Global Bioenergy Partnership is an international initiative that brings together between governments and international organizations as partners and observers of this initiative. Main goal of this initiative of Global Bioenergy Partnership which is active since 2006 is sustainable development. It is really 10 years that we are working with the main objective to facilitate the sustainable development of bio energy. One of the main achievements that we have done so far is the development of the set of the sustainability indicators. 24 indicators were approved in the grid among the 70 partners around the global energy partnership table. These indicators are volunteering tools that aim to harmonize the way your assets the sustainability of the bioenergy production. In so the more it is used the more it is harmonized the way you consider and you asset the sustainability of the bioenergy production in different countries. And so far, we have implemented those indicators in many countries.
Eurasia Diary: How do you see the future of the sustainable energy and bio energy? Because all over the world this is going to be a global agenda now to calm down and reduce the temperature after Paris summit?
Maria Michela Morese: Bioenergy has great potential in terms of being a clean source of energy. The important issue is the way it's managed. It can bring opportunities and challenges. For the best we would try to reduce at the minimum risks, challenges and optimize opportunities in order to take out the best from bio energy in terms of potential and in terms of sustainable development.
Eurasia Diary: Do you think that super powers especially USA is grabbing all the resources from all around the world oil and other natural resources, and then they are pushing the world renewable energy and clean energy, how do you see this?
Maria Michela Morese: Each country in its own national space and circumstances could make differences for its own country and also in terms of international markets so I do see each country could contribute towards the best use of bio energy and for the sustainable development and it's also important to start. You know in each country in order to consider how to the best have sustainable development of bio energy within the borders then how this bio energy development could contribute to diversity of the energy and security of the country and also reduce the imports.
Eurasia Diary: How do you differentiate between bio energy, sustainable energy and nuclear energy?
Maria Michela Morese: I can surely refer the bio energy as a potential source of the sustainable energy.
Eurasia Diary: How do you see the potential of bio energy in regions such as CIS countries, South Caucuses and Central Asia?
Maria Michela Morese: In my opinion there is a very good potential. Just followed the whole day, I think they have enough potential to facilitate the renewable energy in this region. Each of the representatives make presentation of energy mix of each country. Somewhere the bio energy is still very low and underestimated and somewhere else is prominent. In general I can say that there is a good potential in this region in terms of the agricultural researchers and other things as well but sometimes it is underestimated how to contribute to the energy mix of the country. During the years it is growing I am so happy to see these changes.
Eurasia Diary: Do you see any connection between bio energy and conflict resolution in order to resolve international conflicts in the world?
Maria Michela Morese: It is a complicated issue whenever you could find common ground that could bring positive and opportunities to the countries and it could be common ground also for positive discussions among the countries as well.
