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Theme: CC and Sustainable Livelihoods Linkages

Project Name: Wood products, climate change and sustainable livelihoods

Dates: September 2003 – April 2004

Introduction:

Measures to address climate change are being actively developed in the countries which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. However, the potential benefits of utilising wood products to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is not well recognised in the decision-making of governments, public purchasing agencies and individual consumers. There is a need for better understanding of the benefits and costs for sustainable development of using wood products to mitigate climate change. Such improved understanding then needs to be widely communicated and spread such that better informed policy and purchasing decisions are possible.
Nordic Timber Council AB is a joint wood promotion organisation funded by the wood products industries in Finland, Norway and Sweden. It has a strategy of generic promotion of wood, based on environmental properties and sustainable forest management. The objective of Nordic Timber Council is to increase the consumption of wood in Europe to 0.25 m3 per capita by the year 2010. It focuses its efforts on the European market and establishing European cooperation in wood promotion. The main mission of the Nordic Timber Council is to promote wood based products and solutions to consumers, trade, industry, specifiers, politicians and other opinion formers. The Council is keen to make public communications on the climate impacts of wood products and is committed to base these on verifiable statements - defendable and supported by available scientific information.

With its track record of work on forestry and land use, the sustainability of product supply chains, and climate change, IIED is well placed to collaborate with Nordic Timber Council to investigate the issues involved in efforts to enhance the prospects for sustainable development through using wood products to mitigate climate change.


Objectives:

Obtain available quantifiable evidence on the effects of forestry and the use of wood products in terms of global warming potential (CO2-equivalent) and carbon storage. For example, quantify the amount of emissions from the process of converting wood to products versus converting other raw materials (e.g. steel) to products.
Gather evidence and opinion about the impact and opportunities for sustainable development – in social, economic and environmental terms – of using wood products to mitigate climate change.
Synthesise the evidence and highlight key emerging issues in a concise report (supported by bibliography, with annotations on key references, and annexes containing key data). Include in this report a set of succinct statements which convert key findings from the review into credible messages which can be utilised in public communications by the Nordic Timber Council.
The Forestry and Land Use Programme works with the Climate Change Programme on this project.

Related Publications:

• Reid, H., S. Huq, A. Inkinen, J. MacGregor, D. Macqueen, J. Mayers, L. Murray and R. Tipper (2004) Using Wood Products to Mitigate Climate Change: A Review of Evidence and Key Issues for Sustainable Development. Unpublished report. IIED, London. Provide link to report
• Macqueen, D. J. Mayers and H. Reid (2004) Could wood combat climate change? And could this help sustainable development? IIED, London. Provide link to report

Funded by: The Nordic Timber Council

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