Materials and products used in building, such as steel and aluminum, are created by a production process of raw material extraction, raw material process, melting, manufacture to final products, and transportation to building sites. Each of the steps consumes energy, which is also expressed in terms of carbon emissions. Total carbon emissions of all building materials and products and the construction involved to put them together is known as building’s embodied carbon. Embodied carbon accounts for about 20% of the carbon emissions from the building sector (Lane, 2010).
Land management options for mitigation fall in the following four categories: a) cropland management; b) grazing land management/pasture improvement; c) management of agricultural lands and d) restoration of degraded lands. This description focuses on the restoration of degraded lands. Within this description, a differentiation is made between a) management of organic and peaty soils and b) restoration of other degraded lands.
Natural forest preservation in the tropics, and thus in developing countries, must be an element of any effective effort to manage climate change. Forests serve as natural carbon sinks, which help to mitigate the effect of other carbon emissions. However, forest cover is being reduced and it is estimated that deforestation is responsible for 10-17 per cent of global carbon emissions.
The overall objective of this study was to estimate the carbon stock potentials of Tara Gedam forest, Ethiopia, as potential sink for climate change mitigation. Forest plays an important role in the global carbon cycle as carbon sinks of the terrestrial ecosystem. The data was collected from the field by measuring plants with a DBH of >5cm and the carbon stocks of each plant were analysed. The highest carbon stock was found in the western aspect and the lowest in northwest aspect.
This paper describes the important carbon storage and substitution benefits of Harvested Wood Products (HWP). It notes that HWP from forests that are sustainably managed contribute to climate mitigation. HWP and biomass energy from sustainably managed forests can also contribute to adaptation as part of the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. The paper reviews the current situation of Cancun and Bonn texts regarding HWP. It notes that the Cancun decision calls for the development of forest management reference levels.
In late 2009, Indonesia made a voluntary commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent by 2020, or by 41 per cent with international assistance, compared to business as usual. The country aims to achieve 87 per cent of this goal by reducing emissions from deforestation and peatland conversion. In a step towards achieving these emission reductions, a decree was signed in 2011 putting into effect a two-year moratorium on issuing new permits for use of primary natural forest and peatland.
This article gives an overview about low-carbon building materials. This includes sections about the feasibility of the technology and operational necessities, the status of the technology and its future market potential, how the technology could contribute to socio-economic development and environmental problems and financial requirements and costs.
