Choosing timber in design and construction can help tackle climate change in several ways. One of the most important is wood’s capacity for carbon storage.
Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, emit oxygen and store carbon. Carbon remains locked in the wood for the life of the piece of timber until it rots, decays or is burnt.
Australia’s native forests, timber plantations and wood products are all net absorbers of greenhouse gases. In 2005, they sequestered (or stored) 56.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, reducing Australia’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by almost 10%. The combination of carbon sequestration in growing trees and the long-term carbon storage in wood products represents a significant net sink and store of carbon for Australia.
To read more about timber and carbon storage, click here: www.naturallybetter.com.au
