Substitution effects of wood-based products in climate change mitigation

Joensuu

2018

27 S.

Bandaufführung

978-952-5980-69-1978-952-5980-70-7

17490

204137

While the positive role of forests in climate change mitigation is generally well perceived, the contribution of wood products to mitigation is much less known and understood. Current national reporting of greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related processes does not attribute the substitution benefits of wood-based products directly to the forest sector. However, this information is important when developing optimal strategies on how forests and the forest sector can contribute to climate change mitigation. A substitution factor (or displacement factor) typically describes how much greenhouse gas emissions would be avoided if a wood-based product is used instead of another product to provide the same function – be it a chemical compound, a construction element, an energy service or a textile fibre. Overall greenhouse gas substitution effects can be estimated by combining information on the quantity of wood products that are produced or consumed, with product-specific substitution factors. The number of available scientific papers linked to substitution has increased in recent years, however, there is a lack of studies that provide an overall synthesis of the topic. This From Science to Policy study aims to help us to better understand what is the most updated knowledge on greenhouse gas effects of various wood products compared to alternative materials, and what are the limitations. It also identifies important research gaps that should be covered to have a better understanding of the substitution effects.Contents ; Executive summary ; Forests, wood products and climate change mitigation ; Mitigation effects of wood products ; What are substitution factors and how can they be assessed? ; What do we know about substitution effects by wood-based products? ; Variability and uncertainties of substitution factors ; Substitution impacts on regional and market levels ; Upscaling product-level GHG benefits to regions or markets ; Market level substitution benefits ; Substitution as a part of a broader system ; Substitution effects of using wood products: summary of resultsForests have multiple roles, but the role of forests in climate change mitigation has become increasingly important due to the urgent need to reduce climate change impacts. Forests remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, and store carbon in biomass and soil. When forests are harvested, part of the carbon is released and part is stored in woodbased products. In addition to carbon storage in forest ecosystems and harvested wood products (HWP), using wood to substitute greenhouse gas intensivematerials and fossil fuels can have climate benefits. While the positive role of forests in climate change mitigation is generally well perceived, the contribution of wood products to mitigation is much less known and understood. Current national reporting of greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related processes does not attribute the substitution benefits of wood-based products directly to the forest sector. However, this information is important when developing optimal strategies on how forests and the forest sector can contribute to climate change mitigation.