To combat climate change, fossil fuel can be replaced with Wood-based products – FAO
By Omotayo Edubi
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, refurbished wood-based products can aid fight climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report, Forest Products in the global bioeconomy: Enabling substitution by wood-based products and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals has compiled the most recent knowledge on the role of forest products in the global bioeconomy.
It shades more light in the role of trees planting in providing green resolution that can assist the global effort for achieving Net Zero future.
The report also stated that bioeconomy could be a vital instrument to manage the global temperature rise and combating climate change. It said that substituting fossil sources to produce energy, food, feed, fibre and other manufactured goods with wood as a bio-based material can contribute towards achieving the SDGs.
In a statement at the World Bioeconomy Forum in Belem (Brazil), FAO’s Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries said, “Forest-based industries make an essential contribution to Net Zero emission targets, to which many businesses have committed in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.”
As countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Australia and the Russian Federation do not have a dedicated bioeconomy strategy; The FAO report has noted that China, New Zealand, Turkey, the United States of America and the European Union have a dedicated bioeconomy strategy or action plan.
The federal bioeconomy strategic objectives included the strengthening of research and development, fast-forwarding modernizations from the laboratory to market roll-out, reducing regulatory barriers and developments of a bio-economy workforce and also the fostering of partnerships.
Although, the focal point of these objectives diverges from innovation and biotechnology to improving productivity or efficiency of biological resources and bioenergy, the report reveals that engineered wood products and wood-based textile fibres are two emerging forest product categories that can provide renewable and sustainable solutions to the global crisis.
It said that the production and consumption of engineered wood products are rising, mainly due to increased application in wood-frame multi-storey construction.
Lyocell fibres are modern wood-based textile fibres that have properties like viscose and polyester but are more environmentally friendly in production.
The report has noted in conclusion that developing awareness as well as addressing knowledge and implementation gaps in the global forest product value chain is crucial in ensuring the sustainability of a circular forest-based bioeconomy.
