How does paper manufacturing impact climate change?
Two ways: the use of energy generated by fossil fuels and irresponsible forestry practices. When electricity or thermal energy is created by burning coal, oil or gas, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Papermaking requires a huge amount of both indirect energy (electricity we purchase from the grid) and direct energy (thermal energy we make by firing boilers). These processes release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Forest protection is key to controlling climate change. Because forests naturally absorb carbon dioxide, the loss of trees has a great impact on the carbon balance. Trees convert carbon dioxide into carbon and then store it (sequestered) in biomass and soils. Changes in land use (deforestation primarily in tropical rainforests) currently constitute about 30% of CO2 emissions traceable to human activity. At least 37.5 million acres of rainforests are lost annually, an area the size of Georgia.
