Carbon neutrality & its connection to the substitution effects of forest products

Featured presentation from Wood Carbon Seminars: Tackles the question “is wood carbon neutral” by exploring four possible approaches to conducting LCAs for wood products where system boundaries and key assumptions vary:

  1. Traditional LCA approach which assumes neutrality for biogenic carbon and doesn’t account for deforestation or forest degradation that results in net losses of forest carbon
  2. Approach where carbon balance is accounted by the growth of new trees after trees are harvested which accounts for deforestation but involves assumptions or increased need for data collection
  3. Supply area approach that can account for new losses of forest carbon in the forest landscape and is best aligned with how wood is procured
  4. Based off on approach 2 but includes “foregone sequestration” — a counterfactual where trees are allowed to grow instead of being logged but involves assumptions or increased need for data collection

RUNNING TIME 18:00 MINUTES

Presenter: Reid Miner (National Council for Air and Stream Improvement)

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Additional resources

To learn more, visit our Knowledge Hub for helpful videos and reading materials, or our Procurement page for comprehensive guidance on procuring Climate Smart wood products.