EU needs to use more wood products to meet carbon emission targets
12 December 2012The EU needs to use an additional 320 million m3 of wood per year if it is to meet carbon emissions and renewable energy targets, a European Parliament workshop has heard.
Professor Udo Mantau, head of the Forestry Centre of the University of Hamburg, presented his findings at the workshop, which was also intended to answer the question of how much wood raw material was really available in Europe.
Mr Mantau said every year about 104 million tonnes of CO2 was stored by harvested wood products in the EU.
“Governments and citizens should enhance the use of raw material in order to reduce CO2 emissions,” added Serge De Gheldere, the CEO of Futureproofed and a Climate Ambassador for former US vice-president Al Gore.
“Wood from sustainably managed forests plays a prominent role in achieving the CO2 reduction. When we use wood for buildings, furniture and insulation we are taking a big step towards our ideal future.”
