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Global warming

Woodlands' Role in Mitigating Climate Change: Key Findings and Implications

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As part of efforts to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the UK's Climate Change Committee recommends increasing woodland cover from 13% to 17-19% of the UK area. A new study on climate change has found that woodlands sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which could help mitigate climate change. However, the study also highlights that woodlands can emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), precursors to atmospheric pollutants like ozone and particulate matter.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study estimates that current annual UK emissions of BVOCs are 39 kt yr^-1 for isoprene and 46 kt yr^-1 for total monoterpenes.
  • Broadleaf afforestation results in a change to UK isoprene emission of between -3% and +123%, and a change to total monoterpene emission of between +5% and +48%.
  • Needleleaf afforestation leads to a change in UK isoprene emission of between -3% and +22%, and a change to total monoterpene emission of between +60% and +86%.
  • The study highlights possible pathways to achieving 19% woodland cover without requiring large increases in isoprene emissions.
  • The research provides an estimate of the potential impact of afforestation in the UK on BVOC emissions, coupling information on tree species' emissions potential, planting suitability, and policy-informed land cover change.
  • The study uses the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) (v2.1) in the Community Land Model (CLM) (v4.5) to quantify the potential emission of BVOCs from five afforestation experiments for the year 2050.

Statistics:

  • 13%: the current average woodland cover in the UK
  • 17-19%: the recommended woodland cover increase by the UK's Climate Change Committee
  • 39 kt yr^-1: the estimated current annual UK emissions of isoprene
  • 46 kt yr^-1: the estimated current annual UK emissions of total monoterpenes
  • 2050: the target year for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
  • 19%: the target woodland cover percentage by 2050
  • -3% to +123%: the potential change in UK isoprene emissions with broadleaf afforestation
  • -3% to +22%: the potential change in UK isoprene emissions with needleleaf afforestation
  • +5% to +48%: the potential change in UK total monoterpene emissions with broadleaf afforestation
  • +60% to +86%: the potential change in UK total monoterpene emissions with needleleaf afforestation

Sources:

  • Future forests: estimating biogenic emissions from net-zero aligned afforestation pathways in the UK. Biogeosciences, 2025,22():5309-5328. (Biogeosciences - http://www.biogeosciences.net)
  • University of Leeds
  • Climate Change Committee (CCC)
  • Natural Environment Research Council
  • Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN)
  • Community Land Model (CLM)

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