Hanson, Craig, and Janet Ranganathan. "INSIDER: Why Burning Trees for Energy Harms the Climate". Insights. December 06, 2017. https://www.wri.org/...
CO₂ emissions from burning wood to generate heat can be 150% higher per unit of energy produced than from natural gas and 30% higher than from coal. Harvesting trees for heat releases carbon into the atmosphere that would otherwise have remained sequestered in the forest and forgoes increasing carbon capture as the trees continue to grow. It takes a long time for the increase in CO₂ emissions from burning wood for energy to be offset by the CO₂ absorbed by the regrowing tree. However, policymakers largely deny or ignore the harmful effects and facts of burning wood on climate change.
Posted on 09/11/24
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