European Economic and Social Committee
Brussels, 8 November 2007
EU-China Round Table
Second meeting: 14 November 2007
Climate Change, Forestry and Energy Policy
Rapporteur: Mr Nilsson
1.
Forests in regard to the climate change
Forests and forestry play a role in the natural circulation of carbon in various ways. During growth,
atmospheric carbon is sequestered by forest plants. The process where atmospheric carbon is
sequestered in a carbon store outside the atmosphere is called a carbon sink.
On the other hand, carbon is released from this store when the plants decompose either naturally or
when timber taken into use after felling is burned or otherwise decomposed. This is called a carbon
emission. Generally, drainage also leads to a change in the carbon content of forest. The exhaust gases
of forestry machinery cause carbon emissions into the atmosphere, but their impact is very small
compared with the carbon flows caused by forest growth and felling.
Since the growth of forest plants decreases the amount of atmospheric carbon, one might conclude
that forests prevent climate change. However, forests also release carbon into the atmosphere.
Therefore forests can only act as carbon sinks if the amount of carbon released from them is smaller
than the amount of carbon sequestered in them through growth.
The greenhouse effect is accelerated by carbon which is brought to the carbon circle from somewhere
else. Most of all this has taken place due to the industrialisation and the use of fossil fuels – coal, oil,
natural gas – in traffic and energy production, i.e. their burning.
However, the burning of biomass – which means plants and fuels made of them – is not considered to
accelerate the climate change, although when burned they create exactly same kind of carbon dioxide
as it is with fossil fuels. It is said that bio fuels – like forest energy products – are neutral with regard
to the climate change.
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-2There are also a lot of other dangerous aspects which will damage the forestry sector by climate
change. The biodiversity will be change in the forest. It could give both new opportunities but also big
negative effects. By scientific experiences it is clear that forest in the northern areas will have a
significant increase in yearly growth but in southern with to hot climate and with drought the forest
will be damaged.
2.
Climate Change and Forestry Strategy
EESC expressed its view in an Opinion on a Communication from The Commission on "Reporting on
the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy".
A key principles of the EU forestry strategy are subsidarity, according to which responsibility for
forestry policy lies with the Member States, and the possibility for the Community to contribute to the
achievement of sustainable management and use of forests and the multifunctional role of forests,
wherever Community-level action can bring added value.
The EESC believes that the European Union should work consistently towards the achievement of a
global, legally binding agreement on the management, conservation and sustainable development of
all forest types, which complies with the forestry principles adopted at the UN Conference on
Environment and Development in 1992 and underpins implementation of the proposals for measures
adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests. The
EESC also stresses that the European Union must take steps to ensure that existing processes and
instruments designed to promote sustainable forestry are fully taken into account in international
environmental agreements.
The growing concern about climate change impacts and resulting adaptation needs will influence EU
relations with third countries. Dialogue and partnerships on adaptation must be initiated with
developing countries, neighbouring and industrialised countries. While differences in the economic,
political, social and environmental situation of partner countries call for specific adaptation strategies,
a large number of adaptation actions are similar to all countries, and therefore provide ample
opportunity for cooperation.
EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has an important role to play in enhancing the EU's
capacity to prevent and deal with conflicts such as border disputes and tensions over access to natural
resources and natural disasters accentuated by climate change as well as their potential consequences
such as forced migration and internal displacements of persons. EU migration policy should also take
the impacts of climate change into account, in particular in migration management.
Integrated Model of Forestry and Alternative Land Use (DIMA) analysis the drivers for deforestation.
For this impact assessment, a financial incentive per ton of CO2 was introduced in the model that is
similar to the price projected in the POLES model at regional level. The projected impact is large,
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-3showing a reversal from net source to net sink by 2020. Reversing trends in such a manner will be
challenging.
3.
From a business perspective
The International Council of Forest and Paper Association, ICFPA, will hold a conference in
December 2007 and a key themes will be: "the various roles of forests and forestry in climate change.
Sustainable forest management, including afforestation and reforestation, are key themes as is the
activities of the forest industry sector. The forest industry (private forest owners, forest products
companies) has several roles in the climate change debate. One role is as an eco-efficient user of
energy and responsible manager of greenhouse gas emissions. Others include sustainable forest
management, producers of wood-based products and enablers of new technologies for biofuels, biochemicals, etc. These different roles of the forest industry in climate change are expanding and
becoming clearer as the scientific and policy debates develop; including carbon sequestration in wood
products, the deployment of intensively managed planted forests to meet expanding demand for fibre
(for products and energy) and the production of bio-energy/fuels".
4.
Sydney Declaration
In the APEC leaders declaration after their meeting in September 2007 they strongly mentioned both
the question of energy and forest as key sectors related to climate change:
"Forests can play a critical role in the carbon cycle. Ongoing action is required to encourage
afforestation and reforestation and to reduce deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires,
including by promoting sustainable forest management, combating illegal logging and
addressing the underlying economic and social drivers. We therefore:
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agree to work to achieve a regional aspirational goal of increasing forest cover in the
APEC region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020;
welcome the Global Initiative on Forests and Climate launched in Sydney in July 2007;
welcome the development of other instruments which may include continued work on a
Legally Binding Instrument on Sustainable Forest Management for those economies
interested in pursuing this option;
agree to establish the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and
rehabilitation to enhance capacity building and strengthen information sharing in the
forestry sector. Collaboration between all regional initiatives on forests, including the
Asia Forest;
Partnership, will be important." ...
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-45.
EU Energy policy EESC opinion
The EESC together with national Economic and Social Councils presented to the European Council in
March 2006 the some recommendations related to a global market, on energy policy in the framework
of the Lisbon Strategy, "Energy Policy for a Knowledge Society":
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Scrutinise energy policies and other relevant framework conditions against the EU goals of an
efficient, low carbon economy.
Ensure access of new technology to EU and global markets.
Ensure a global level playing field, for instance a global price on CO2 all the while ensuring
that it does not become a commodity like any other, since a genuine reduction in CO 2 levels
will influence the very survival of the planet.
Ambitious targets can help to develop a strong position for EU on the global markets in energy
efficient and renewable energy technologies. Targets and their deadlines need, however, to be
carefully set, so that there are realistic possibilities to meet them.
In order to achieve the urgent transformation of the energy sector which is needed, the pace of
innovation needs to be accelerated. The Committee urged that particular attention be given to
measures to set a proper global economic price for carbon emissions.
The Commission presents as the core energy objective for Europe that the EU should reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. The EU target needs to be seen in the context of the need
for international action of industrial nations on climate change. When such a commitment exists, the
EU will need to do more. The aim should therefore be to increase the target to a 30% reduction by
2020 and 60-80% by 2050.
The concern is not only about climate change, it is also about Europe's security of energy supply,
economy and the wellbeing of its citizens. The Commission sees that achieving the objective also can
limit the EU's growing exposure to increased volatility and prices for oil and gas, bring about a more
competitive EU energy market, and stimulate technology and jobs.
In energy specific terms, meeting this overall greenhouse gas target will require the EU to reduce the
amount of CO2 from its energy use by at least 20%, and probably more, within the next 13 years. It
will mean the EU taking global leadership in catalysing a new industrial revolution.
The EESC found that Europe needs to set a strategic goal of a diversified energy mix, meeting
optimally economic, and security of supply and climate policy objectives. All energy sources and
technologies have, in relation to these objectives, benefits and drawbacks, which have to be taken into
account in an open and balanced way.
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