Tackle Climate Change: Use Wood

We were lucky to have LIVE EO, Osapiens and TimberID as gold sponsors at the PEFC Forest Forum, and Timbeter as a silver sponsor. At the conference, the sponsors met with PEFC members and international stakeholders to demonstrate and explain their technology solutions for EUDR compliance. Thanks go to Alberta Zatta and João Diogo, Michael Frank, Swapan Chaudhuri, and Anna-Greta Tsahkna! PEFC is working towards partnerships with all these companies, with our first announcement due soon on our plans with LIVE EO. LIVE EO, Osapiens and TimberID have end-to-end software solutions for EUDR compliance which include Earth Observation checks for deforestation and degradation, data sharing capability and Due Diligence Statement functionality.

UPM's commitment to wind power in Finland will significantly decrease emissions resulting from UPM’s paper production. The new wind park in Pyhäjoki is expected to reach full capacity in generating climate-friendly power in early 2023, providing a long-term renewable energy solution for UPM’s Finnish paper mills. In 2019, UPM signed a Wind Power Purchase agreement (PPA) with German renewable energy development company wpd. This contract enabled the construction of a new onshore wind park in Pyhäjoki, Finland, which is now in its final stages of development; the park is starting operations in the autumn 2022. It will reach full capacity in generating sustainable power in January 2023 and will continue to do so for 25-30 years.

Last week, both Premier Stephen McNeil and Progressive Conservative leader Tim Houston had an opportunity to debate the future of the forestry sector. Lacking in the conversation was discussion regarding providing Northern Pulp with a short extension to complete its new wastewater treatment facility. “It needs to be said: without Northern Pulp there can be no plan B that does not include massive job losses,” states Jean Francois Guillot, Vice President Operations East with Paper Excellence Canada, owner of Northern Pulp. “The forestry sector’s future was discussed in the legislature last week, but no one discussed a short extension for our wastewater treatment facility.” “Without a short extension, we will be forced by the government to cease operating and that will cost jobs throughout rural Nova Scotia.” Northern Pulp’s new wastewater treatment facility will ensure no untreated wastewater ever leaves the site and will then continue our practice of releasing treated wastewater into the Northumberland Strait. Click read more below for additional detail.