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What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change

Year of publication 2010

Author Office of Assistant Director-General (Forestry Department)

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title FAO Forestry Paper

Series number 0259-2800|0258-6150|02586150|1014-1952|19992882

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Climate change can be mitigated in several ways, but most strategies emphasize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to energy sources that are less carbon intensive than fossil fuels. This publication explores the scope, potential and implications for using woodfuels to replace fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation. It analyses the current woodfuel offset mechanisms in place and their relative emission reduction potenti als. The scope is limited to solid woodfuels (fuelwood, charcoal, prepared biomass such as woodchips and pellets, and recovered products or residues from wood processing industries). However, some themes covered will be applicable to all woodfuels, notably the socio-economic and environmental impacts, financing options and overall development implications of more intensive and efficient use of woodfuels. The publication will be of interest to specialists and policy-makers in fo restry, climate change and renewable energy, as well as to forest managers, students and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production and the resulting mitigation potential.

Language English

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    Reliable, secure and safe energy sources are fundamental to the well-being and social and economic development of all societies. With growing pressure on energy resources and a heavy dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, the world faces two key energy-related problems: the lack of a secure and affordable supply, and the threat of overconsumption leading to irreversible environmental damage. As part of the solution to these problems, many countries are looking increasingly to their biomass-en ergy resources. This publication focuses on one major source of biomass energy – woodfuels. In many developing countries, woodfuels are still commonly used for household cooking and heating and are also important for local processing industries. In many developed countries, wood-processing industries often use their wood by-products for energy production. In some countries, notably the Nordic countries, forest residues are increasingly used for industrial-scale electricity generation and heating . Several developing countries have enormous potential to produce energy from forests and trees outside forests, for both domestic use and export. However this potential is not often properly reflected in national energy-development strategies. This publication sets out principles, criteria and indicators to guide the sustainable use of woodfuel resources and the sustainable production of charcoal. It is designed to help policy- and decision-makers in forestry, energy and environment agencies, n on-governmental and other civil-society organizations and the private sector ensure that the woodfuel sector reaches its full potential as an agent of sustainable development.
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