Fuelwood Use and Climate Change

I am glad that more and more people are questioning whether we give enough attention to the use wood as fuel by a large number of people around the world for daily cooking and heating, especially in the developing countries. It is of concerned that more than half the volume of total wood removals from forest and trees is used to generate energy in the home. We need a dialogue at all levels on the environment impact in the use of wood for generating energy and on the questions rose about the impact of increased fuelwood use and the use of wood residues and waste. In Tanzania for example, wood meets 92 per cent of energy requirements. Is that good or bad from the perspective of environmental impact? Wood fuel demand drives to rapid destruction of forest cover. Do we need guidelines for wood harvesting and charcoal burning to prevent forest destruction? We need also to promote cleaner fuelwood use by improving stoves and charcoal-making technology. Balance has to be maintained in preventing destruction of forest and the country’s need for not relying on imported oil energy. It is encouraging to know that some communities are now establishing tree planting for energy, and address integrated land use issues. The recent meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held earlier this month rightly focused on forest and energy as a new challenge in sustainable forest management. This is an issue that relates to climate change. Many representatives wanted assistance in developing comprehensive and integrated national bio-energy strategies, which include wood energy. We should match a higher demand for wood with increasing production of trees and efficient use of biomass. The issue of energy for sustainable development and climate change will be taken up this coming May, at the meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York. On this issues there are some good news: the European Union’s effort to target 20% reduction of carbon emissions by 2020, and Brazil 45% of energy consumed comes from renewable sources and 80 per cent of cars sold have flex fuel engines enable them to run on either gasoline or ethanol.

Filed under Environment, United Nations, World Affairs |