Insights for DWC 2023 – Part 3
This year, the DWC 2023 event will bring together notable speakers who are able to deliver powerful message related to use of wood, sustainability, circularity in building construction sector and city planning in a way that will ensure the event creates significant impact in this era of climate change mitigation strategies.
Learn more about our speakers from different sessions and their insights below.
Session 2 – Sustainability in Material & Design Considerations
Climate Benefits of Long-Lasting Wood Products in Construction Applications
Biogenic carbon sinks are needed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to mitigate global warming. In the future, the role of technical, product-based carbon sinks is getting even more important. In this presentation, I will demonstrate a methodological framework for assessing the potential of wood-based products to create climate benefits. The methodology is based on the principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that quantifies all environmental impacts, including the greenhouse gas emissions and removals, occurring during the whole life cycle of the products. I will also present examples of the application of LCA in comparing the environmental sustainability of different construction materials and show some scenarios of the magnitude of the carbon sinks that can be potentially achieved with the help of forest-based products in the future.
See the full presentation:
About the speaker
Ilkka Leinonen (PhD: Agriculture and Forestry, MSc: Agriculture and Forestry) works as a Research Professor at the Bioeconomy and Environment research unit of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and has earlier carried out research work at several high-quality research institutes in the UK, USA and the Netherlands. Prof. Leinonen has a long experience in applying and further developing systems modelling-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods for quantifying the environmental impacts and resource use of bio-based production chains and investigating options for improving their environmental sustainability. His work has resulted in numerous high-impact scientific articles and book chapters, as well as development of various LCA tools in collaboration with industry partners. Prof Leinonen has a strong background in ecology and environmental sciences, and his earlier work includes development of process-based models for carbon cycles, as well as mechanistic models for energy balance and nutrient dynamics.
The second international Drivers for Wood Construction event will be held in Joensuu 15.-16.5.2023 with the theme Holistic Approach Towards Sustainable Wood Construction.
Drivers of Wood Construction 2023 event organized by the Karelia University of Applied Sciences
in cooperation with Natural Resources Institute Finland, University of Eastern Finland and European Forest Institute.
Main Partners and Sponsor
Ministry of the Environment, Wood Building Programme