The election debate has yet to truly address the major parties’ competing climate change policies according to the Australian Forest Products Association. Source: Timberbiz
Broad sweeping statements do not do justice to the many dimensions of this debate and the implications for Australia said the AFPA in a statement.
The body representing Australia’s forest, wood and paper product industries is calling on both major political parties to fully acknowledge the role of the industry as part of a low carbon future.
“Just by using more wood and paper products from sustainably managed forests, we are promoting carbon sequestration and displacing more emissions intensive materials such as steel and concrete or electronic communications,” said AFPA chief executive officer Ross Hampton.
“There is international acceptance that harvesting and replanting forests is a far more effective way to sequester carbon than simply leaving trees to age and decay in the bush.
“Likewise countries are moving quickly towards accounting for the carbon stored in things made from wood as yet more sequestration,” said Hampton. “Australian policy makers need to catch up.
“Of vital interest to the 200 000 Australians who rely directly or indirectly on forestry and forest product manufacturing – mostly in regional Australia – is the creation of carbon incentives rather than penalties.
“Incentives can grow these industries and make a significant contribution to Australia’s low carbon future.
“The Labor Party’s carbon accounting needs to move more quickly to allow for commercial forestry activities under the Carbon Farming Initiative. This can deliver win-win outcomes for carbon storage and regional development such as the development of long rotation timber plantations.
“The Coalition needs to actively promote the role of forestry measures as part of its direct action plan. In direct action, commercial plantations and better use of wood waste for renewable energy is estimated to contribute up to 10 per cent or 15 million tonnes per year of the total target by 2020.
“Further analysis by AFPA suggests that the potential contribution from forestry measures in direct action is conservative.
“With the right policy settings, the industry could easily deliver an additional 15 million tonnes of abatement achieved through expanded plantation development, greater use of wood in domestic building and construction and new energy savings through the use of bioenergy.”
