Wood-energy: the impossible equation - Report, February 2023

This report highlights the unrealistic nature of certain energy scenarios, given the ever-increasing use of wood in energy production. The need for political arbitration: Under pressure from the first effects of climate change, our forests are suffering and their capacity to absorb carbon is diminishing. Rather than adjusting wood harvesting to these new conditions, demand for wood energy is rising - with the risk of further degrading the forest carbon sink. By 2050, the emergence of new uses, such as biogas or wood-based biofuels, could add to existing uses and lead to a sharp increase in wood energy harvesting. This report highlights the unrealistic nature of certain energy scenarios - if no political decisions are taken. Without rapid and clear political arbitration, there is a risk that each sector will adopt the assumptions most advantageous to its interests, accelerating the construction of new infrastructures and leading to an unsustainable rise in demand. If the current situation can be illustrated by a more or less balance between uses and wood availability for the wood-energy sector, the new flows identified for primary forest and secondary biomass (forest harvesting, increase in recycled/reclaimed wood, increase in mortality, etc.) and the development of new uses (pyrogasification, biofuel) are as many risks for the forest carbon sink