Use of wood and wood products in the light of the climate change discussion by Hillevi M Eriksson

Growing awareness about... increasing GHG concentrations need for reduced emissions threat against humans and nature that climate has changed already

UNFCCC in Rio - 92 aim towards no adverse effects

Major cause: fossil fuel combustion Major emittors: citizens in industrialized countries

The Kyoto Protocol.. is awaiting Russia - then legally binding aim towards reduced net emissions (<5 %) –from reduced fossil-fuel use –from afforestation?

Sink option problems ”eternal” cost to maintain new C stock potentially: –lowered production of low-cost biofuels –high costs for accounting and administration

Biofuels replacing fossil fuels - long-term viable option CO 2 tax reduced Swedish emission with 5-10 % wood house - same C stock as in oil for one year => energy source more important

Climate-related arguments for using wood-based products: Higher wood product consumption => –higher production of byproduct biofuels –higher production of rest-product biofuels Wood requires relatively little energy for its production and use