A Value Chain Assessment of Climate Change and Energy Issues Affecting the Global Forest-Based Industry

Looking at an industry’s value chain can help companies understand the costs and benefits of proactively managing their carbon emissions. This June 2004 report to the WBCSD’s Sustainable Forest Products Industry Working Group examines the environmental and energy aspects of the climate change issue from the perspective of the forest-based industry value chain. The report identifies six sector-specific categories at the crux of this issue:

• Sequestration of atmospheric carbon in forests, products, and waste
  
• Biomass energy as a substitute for fossil fuels
  
• Manufacturing emissions of GHGs
  
• Combined heat and power
  
• Value chain emissions of GHGs
  
• Choices between products based on GHG intensity and climate concerns