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A major new international research project has demonstrated the most effective way to use wood to achieve enduring global cooling.

Led by researchers at the University of Galway, with an international consortium including ����VR��Ƶ, the study examined the combination of using low-value wood for manufacturing before it is converted to fuel for clean energy generation, with carbon capture and storage, when the products reach end of life.

The scientific analysis showed that the strategy can play a critical role in achieving climate neutrality targets.

The researchers detailed the strategy of combining forestry with “cascading” use of wood products and revealed that it provides more resilient and long-term climate benefits than either directly burning harvested wood or leaving forests unharvested.

The research is particularly significant for the UK as well as countries in the EU, with the legally-binding commitments to reach climate neutrality by 2050 – meaning that any greenhouse gas releases must either be eliminated or balanced by an equal amount removed from the atmosphere.

One of the biggest challenges comes from sectors where deep emissions cuts are technically difficult and costly, such as heavy industry, aviation and agriculture.

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) has been identified as a practical solution - as it effectively removes carbon dioxide from the air forever. However, it will take decades to deploy at scale and, in the meantime, harvested and processed forestry wood products leave low-value leftovers which are often burned for bioenergy releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.

Dr George Bishop, lead scientist in the project based at University of Galway, said: "Our research shows that BECCS is a robust climate change mitigation option that consistently delivers long-term temperature reduction.”

The research team outline an alternative opportunity: rather than immediately burning low-value wood for energy, these materials can be used for manufacturing products like particleboard to prolong the time of carbon storage before BECCS can be used at the end of life of this wood product.

The study demonstrates that this combined cycle creates a durable carbon removal pathway with a significant long-term global cooling effect, supporting climate-neutrality goals in UK and globally.

Professor David Styles, co-author and Professor in Agri-sustainability, University of Galway, said: "National climate neutrality targets cannot be met without large scale carbon dioxide removal. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage provides one of the few scalable ways to deliver permanent carbon removal while also producing renewable energy.”

Professor John Healey, co-author of the study and Professor of Forest Sciences (����VR��Ƶ) said: “This ground-breaking study has major implications for international policy to reduce the rate of climate change, and specifically for the UK given its heavy investment in low-carbon energy generation from wood combustion and the huge potential for carbon capture and storage in its depleted gas and oil fields under the Irish and North Seas. The results provide powerful evidence in support of the recent progress with deployment of BECCS through the HyNet North West cluster. They also show the importance of co-ordinating this investment with strategic policy to promote productive forestry linked to efficient circular use of wood products.”

By integrating sustainable forest management with circular and cascading wood strategies and BECCS, the global community can ensure a more durable and resilient path towards climate stabilisation.

Dr James Gaffey, co-author and Project Lead at Munster Technological University, said: "The results of this study highlight the need for greater investment in carbon capture and storage infrastructure in parallel with cascading circular bioeconomy and renewable energy developments. The results are relevant for Ireland and for other EU member states and the approach will help them to meet their climate obligations and avoid future risks of penalties.”

The research also highlighted an interesting analysis of the comparison between active forest management and leaving forests unharvested. While unharvested forests provide strong near-term cooling, their carbon sink strength diminishes as trees mature, and carbon stored in living forests is increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven disturbances such as wildfires, pests, and disease.

Dr Bishop added: “If we transfer carbon from forests to geological stores via a cascade of multiple wood uses – such as creating products from the leftover wood – we enhance the longevity and resilience of carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. Our sophisticated modelling shows that cascading wood use into Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage eventually surpasses the climate benefits of unharvested forests.”