Replacing traditional, polluting materials through manufacturing processes by using wood for building construction could be a viable solution in combating the negative effects of large amounts of CO2 emissions, as well as other gases and hazardous substances that can enter the atmosphere. This topic is the subject of collaboration between climatologists from Germany and China.
According to studies, there is potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 billion tons by transitioning from concrete to wood for buildings with 4-12 stories, which would require the planting of approximately 140 million hectares of forest. In terms of emissions, these are comparable to the weight of the cement produced, making this industry one of the largest sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases—accounting for about 10% of the total.
The use of processed wood for construction has been discussed as a means to mitigate climate change. It has been identified that meeting the additional demand for wood construction materials can be achieved by expanding wood plantations without major repercussions on agricultural production. However, strong governance and careful planning are necessary to ensure a sustainable transition to wooden cities.
In 2020, the production of raw materials for conventional buildings caused approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, arising from cement production as well as from iron and steel production. Continued use of conventional building materials for future infrastructure development could consume 35-60% of the remaining carbon budget associated with limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C.
New and improved housing will be needed to accommodate the influx of new residents in cities. Using processed wood for building construction can help avoid emissions associated with conventional building materials. Wood is a renewable resource that typically has the smallest carbon footprint of any comparable material used in construction. Additionally, the carbon stored in wood, which has been absorbed from atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis, is partially retained when wood is used as a building material, making it a long-term carbon sink.
In the medium and long term, highly productive plantations could increase wood production while alleviating harvest pressure on natural forests under strict biodiversity and land protection conditions.
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