Europe’s forests and wood products are currently reducing the carbon footprint of EU Member States by an estimated 380 megatons of CO2 equivalent per year. That is about ten percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU per year. To achieve the ambitious climate goals in 2050, the forests should be able to store about 170 megatons more per year. In a report from the “European Forest Institute” (EFI), experts see the potential needed for this as not quite there.
According to the EU’s plans, no more greenhouse gases should be emitted in 2050 than can be offset by other means. So-called net zero emissions would then be achieved. However, this cannot be done without removing CO2 from the atmosphere. This is exactly what forests have naturally always done when they build up biomass. Accordingly, the carbon uptake of European forests should be increased. In order to meet the EU targets, in addition to the current 380 megatons of CO2 equivalents per year, another 50 megatons from 2030, 100 megatons from 2035 and 170 megatons from 2050 should be ‘parked’ in the forest or in wood products that can be used for as long as possible. have been used” will.
Assumptions in EU targets are a challenge in the forestry sector
If forest loss is prevented, reforestation is encouraged and more wood is used in products with a very long use, an additional 72 megatons of CO2 equivalents could be stored on the territory of the 27 EU Member States by 2050. In combination with further forest protection measures, improvements in forest management and a reduction in logging, this value could rise to 143 megatons per year. Even if there are major uncertainties behind these figures, the analysis shows that it will be a challenge to realize the assumptions behind the EU targets in the forestry sector, the scientists write.
The team of authors see the greatest potential for additional carbon storage in the major countries of Sweden, Finland, Spain, France, Poland and Germany. Here, the additional carbon storage capabilities shown in various studies average around or more than ten megatons per year with a view to 2050.
Opportunities in Austria relatively small
For Austria, the additional potential is estimated at approximately four megatons extra per year. In this country, the possibilities to fix more carbon through reforestation are generally quite small – after all, Austria is already very high with its forest share of about 50 percent of the national area. According to the report, storage potential can be increased mainly through improvements in forest management. This also applies, for example, to the heavily forested Scandinavian countries.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
