In August of 2015, former prime minister Tony Abbott declared that “We are not leading,” referring to Australia’s position in the world as a top producer of carbon emissions, “but we certainly aren’t lagging.” Indeed, Australia as late as two years ago was within the top 15 producers of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the biggest CO2 producer per capita.
CO2 emissions are the primary source of the so-called greenhouse gases that cause global warming. And global warming, if it continues unabated, will be a colossal headache for the entire planet.
So let us do our share to curb our country’s rather shameful CO2 production; let’s build more timber decks and pergolas!
That’s right. One of the best ways to counter global warming is to use more timber to build more timber structures. Now you’re probably scratching your head and wondering at the paradox of it all. “How could cutting down more trees,” you ask, “be good for the planet?”
Here’s how that works:
- Softwoods sources its wood from certified plantations. These plantations comply with very stringent international standards for sustainability. This means that the plantations have a solid plan and procedure for replanting and restocking trees to replace those that have been harvested. This ensures a continuous supply of timber without having to cut down any more boreal forests.
- Trees naturally soak up carbon dioxide gases as part of their metabolism. The more trees are planted, the more CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere.
- When these plantation trees are cut down and converted to sustainable timber, the CO2 remains within the timber.
- The more timber decks, pergolas, carports, fencing and screening are built, the more trees are planted and the more CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere.
As CO2 levels decrease, global warming ceases to be an imminent threat to life on earth, and we make this planet a better one for future generations.
