What is the relationship between wood heat and climate change?
The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel burning is a major contributor to global climate change. When the wood is burned, or is simply left to decay in the forest, carbon dioxide is also released; however, growing trees and plants also absorb CO2. If wood is used at the same rate that it grows in the forest the system is sustainable and considered “carbon neutral” and not a net contributor to global warming. Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 that has been stored underground for millions of years and increases the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. For every unit of fossil fuel heat replaced with wood the following chart shows the net CO2 emissions reductions.
