From carbon neutral to climate neutral: Dynamic life cycle assessment for wood‐based panels produced in China

Abstract

The forestry sector is crucial in supporting climate change mitigation, where the mitigation potential is assessed by combining forest carbon analysis and wood product life cycle assessment (LCA). Static LCA (sLCA) is the approach commonly used in national forestry mitigation models worldwide. Static GHG effects are calculated as a running total of emissions and removals, which are often used to imply climate effects. Also, carbon neutrality, a state when the GHG effects equal zero, is used to imply neutral climate effects. However, until carbon neutrality is achieved, the increased emissions contribute to climate warming. Dynamic LCA (dLCA) is an improved method to estimate climate effects by considering the atmospheric dynamics and heat trapping capacity of different GHGs. Climate neutrality is a state when the warming effects caused by increased emissions are fully compensated by warming reduction contributed by removals. We applied dLCA and sLCA to China‐made wood‐based panels produced from 1990 to 2018 by harvesting poplar plantations. Our results suggested that, compared to dLCA results, static GHG effects largely underestimated climate warming effects or overestimated mitigation contributions. Also, decades or longer was required to achieve climate neutrality following carbon neutrality, if achievable. So, within a given timeframe, a forestry mitigation activity can achieve carbon neutrality but increase climate warming, hindering the goal of limiting global temperature rise that was set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Thus, to assess climate warming effects, using dLCA in addition to GHG effects is essential for forestry mitigation analysis.

From carbon-neutral to climate-neutral supply chains: a multidisciplinary review and research agenda

“…, 2022b). While CO 2 emissions are the main contributor to global warming, other GHG such as methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and fluorinated gases also play a significant role (Wang et al. , 2022).…”

“…Emissions goals encompass the objectives set by countries, industries, or other entities to reduce their GHG emissions during a specific timeframe (Wang et al. , 2022).…”

Carbon Footprint Assessment and Efficiency Measurement of Wood Processing Industry Based on Life Cycle Assessment

“…The carbon emissions produced during the production of plywood, fiberboard, and particleboard were estimated to be 115.94, 301.71, and 195.50 kg, respectively, according to a study by Wang et al [22]. Although the study took into account the recycling of processing waste, it did not take into account the losses of raw materials.…”

“…In previous studies, research on this topic has focused mostly on the different stages of the wood processing industry's "forest-processing-in use-landfill" life cycle. As Wang pointed out, the forestry sector is crucial in supporting climate change mitigation, and the mitigation potential is assessed by combining forest carbon analysis and wood product life cycle assessment (LCA) [22]. Kayo et al and Sedjo et al believed that the use of logging residues as energy in the processing stage of wood forest products would not produce carbon emissions, and could replace fossil fuels to help reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gases [15,23].…”

Combined evaluation of corporate ecological and environmental responsibility: Evidence for forest preservation from Chinese forestry companies

“…China's total forest carbon storage has reached 9.2 billion tons and is still increasing yearly. In the context of carbon neutrality, the role of forestry becomes even more prominent (Wang et al, 2022). Forest is crucial for maintaining climate and ecological security and has been promoted to a strategic height concerning human survival and development, future, and destiny.…”