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Climate effects of forestry and substitution of concrete buildings and fossil energy

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  • Gustavsson, L.
  • Nguyen, T.
  • Sathre, R.
  • Tettey, U.Y.A.

Abstract

Forests can help mitigate climate change in different ways, such as by storing carbon in forest ecosystems, and by producing a renewable supply of material and energy products. We analyse the climate implications of different scenarios for forestry, bioenergy and wood construction. We consider three main forestry scenarios for Kronoberg County in Sweden, over a 201-year period. The Business-as-usual scenario mirrors today's forestry while in the Production scenario the forest productivity is increased by 40% through more intensive forestry. In the Set-aside scenario 50% of forest land is set-aside for conservation. The Production scenario results in less net carbon dioxide emissions and cumulative radiative forcing compared to the other scenarios, after an initial period of 30–35 years during which the Set-aside scenario has less emissions. In the end of the analysed period, the Production scenario yields strong emission reductions, about ten times greater than the initial reduction in the Set-aside scenario. Also, the Set-aside scenario has higher emissions than Business-as-usual after about 80 years. Increasing the harvest level of slash and stumps results in climate benefits, due to replacement of more fossil fuel. Greatest emission reduction is achieved when biomass replaces coal, and when modular timber buildings are used. In the long run, active forestry with high harvest and efficient utilisation of biomass for replacement of carbon-intensive non-wood products and fuels provides significant climate mitigation, in contrast to setting aside forest land to store more carbon in the forest and reduce the harvest of biomass.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustavsson, L. & Nguyen, T. & Sathre, R. & Tettey, U.Y.A., 2021. "Climate effects of forestry and substitution of concrete buildings and fossil energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:136:y:2021:i:c:s136403212030722x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110435
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Anna Sobotka & Kazimierz Linczowski & Aleksandra Radziejowska, 2021. "Substitution of Building Components in Historic Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Cai, Mengfan & An, Chunjiang & Guy, Christophe, 2021. "A scientometric analysis and review of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions: Research hotspots, new frontiers, and environmental implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Edgaras Linkevičius & Povilas Žemaitis & Marius Aleinikovas, 2023. "Sustainability Impacts of Wood- and Concrete-Based Frame Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
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    8. Zhang, Qian & Wang, Rong & Tang, Decai & Boamah, Valentina, 2023. "The role and transmission mechanism of forest resource abundance on low-carbon economic development in the Yangtze River Delta region: Insights from the COP26 targets," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).

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