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Assessing the net atmospheric impacts of wood production and utilization

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change volume 19, pages 955–968 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to calculate net atmospheric impacts for wood production and utilization in Finnish boreal forest conditions. Net atmospheric impacts were calculated by comparing net CO2 exchanges of the wood production and utilization to the reference management regime. Net CO2 exchanges were simulated with a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool for a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand (MT, Myrtillys-type) in central Finland (Joensuu region, 62°39 N, 29°37 E) over two consecutive rotation periods (100 + 100 years/200 years). Net atmospheric impacts were calculated both for sawn timber and pulpwood, and expressed in kgCO2m−3. According to the results, the production of pulp and sawn timber produced emissions of 0.20 and 0.59 kgCO2m−3 over the 200-year period, respectively, when the unmanagement regime was used as the reference management regime. When 50 % of the processing waste of timber was accounted as an instant emission to the atmosphere, the atmospheric impact increased to 0.55 kgCO2m−3 in pulpwood and to 1.27 kgCO2m−3 in sawn timber over the 200 year period. When turnover rates of sawn timber in the technosystem were decreased by 30 % and the share of energy use was decreased to 30 %, the atmospheric impact decreased by 17 % and 4 % for pulpwood and sawn timber, respectively, compared to the default wood degradation and energy use of 50 %. The utilized LCA approach provided an effective tool for approaching net atmospheric impacts originating from the ecosystem carbon (C) flows and variable wood utilization. Taking the ecosystem production and utilization of wood (i.e. degradation of technosystem C stock) into account, in terms of net CO2 exchange, the mitigation possibilities of wood compared to other products can be accounted for more precisely in the future and C sequestration credited more specifically for a certain wood product.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded through the project "C sequestration in climate impact assessment of wood construction" of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The work was also funded through the project "Sustainable bioenergy, climate change and health", based on the strategic funding of the University of Eastern Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Environment Institute, Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, Environmental Performance Unit, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Antti Kilpeläinen

  2. Faculty of Science and Forestry, School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Harri Strandman & Seppo Kellomäki

  3. Finnish Environment Institute, Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, P.O. Box 140, 00251, Helsinki, Finland

    Jyri Seppälä

Authors
  1. Antti Kilpeläinen
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  2. Harri Strandman
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  3. Seppo Kellomäki
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  4. Jyri Seppälä
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Correspondence to Antti Kilpeläinen.

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Kilpeläinen, A., Strandman, H., Kellomäki, S. et al. Assessing the net atmospheric impacts of wood production and utilization. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 19, 955–968 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-013-9454-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-013-9454-2

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • C dioxide
  • Forest ecosystem
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Timber
  • Wood