Climate Change and Paper

Paper-making results in about 10% of global carbon emissions. And most of the world's paper comes from forests.

Scientific studies are starting to highlight the important role intact forests play in mitigating climate change. With their characteristic of "permanence", intact and undisturbed boreal and temperate forests store 2.5 times more carbon than managed forests. This is because large quantities of carbon are stored in the trees and soil. Logging intact forests for products like paper and lumber can release the carbon stored in the soil, while the carbon stored in lumber and paper products lasts only for the life span of the product.

The following pages summarize the science that supports the need to protect the world's intact forests from being logged for paper, as well as highlighting the role several publishers have played in leading credible carbon reduction initiatives.

INTACT FORESTS: A MAJOR CARBON STOREHOUSE

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS: CUTTING EDGE ACADEMIC STUDIES

'Oregon State University Study Shows Value Found in Old Growth', September 2008

'Green Carbon, the Role of Natural Forests in Carbon Storage', Australian National University, Summer 2008

'Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error', Princeton University, October 2009

REVIEWS AND REPORTS BY ENVIRONMENTAL NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

'Credit Check: An Evaluation of Tree-Planting and Fossil-Fuel Emission Reduction Offsets', David Suzuki Foundation, 2008

'Green Press Initiative Climate Guide', 2008

'Turning up the Heat', Greenpeace, 2008

'Counting Canada's Natural Capital: Assessing the Real Value of Canada's Boreal Ecosystems', Canadian Boreal Initiative and The Pembina Institute

SUPPORT FROM ADVOCATES

Prince Charles says "rainforests are the world's lifebelt" and urges market-based solutions

Stephen Lewis' Canopy Club Keynote Address

PUBLISHERS AND ADVOCATES INSPIRING CARBON REDUCTION INITIATIVES

CARBON REDUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLISHING SECTOR

Recommendations

What about tree planting as a viable carbon offset?

THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF MILLS

Cascades Fine Paper Carbon Footprint Study: Leadership in Transparency