22 October 2008
European Forest Week Discusses Role of Wood Products in Climate Change Mitigation
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21 October 2008: A policy dialogue took place on 21 October 2008, at UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy, on the role of wood products and forests in climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas balances.

The event was one of several taking place as part of European Forest Week 2008, which […]

European Forest Week 2008 21 October 2008: A policy dialogue took place on 21 October
2008, at UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome,
Italy, on the role of wood products and forests in climate change mitigation
and greenhouse gas balances. The event was one of several taking place as part
of European Forest Week 2008, which is being held from 20-24 October 2008.

Participants heard presentations on: possible approaches to account for carbon
storage in harvested wood products (HWP), including the atmospheric flow
approach, a new method that distinguishes between harvested wood imports and
exports; and the conclusions and recommendations of the UN Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE)/FAO workshop on HWP held in Geneva, Switzerland, in
September 2008.
In the ensuing discussion, panelists stressed that: HWP
accounting would have to involve all UNFCCC parties; domestic voluntary
accounting will be weaker, but may increase product market competitiveness in
the long term; and embodied energy of exported combustion wood products should
be reported. The event was hosted by the German von Thuenen Institute, UNECE,
FAO and the Government of Switzerland. [IISD
RS coverage of European Forest Week
] [Policy
Dialogue Website
] [European
Forest Week Website
]