Displaying items by tag: cepi
“Innovating for the future: the forest and paper industry towards a low carbon economy”
Tokyo (Japan) – FAO Headquarters. “From the forests through to the end products we can provide solutions which are environmentally friendly, renewable and which ensure sustainable growth, and all of which contribute to climate change mitigation and carbon emission reduction”. That is the green output of the 51st session of the FAO Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (ACPWP) and the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA). Industry executives, gathered in Tokyo (Japan) on 27 and 28 May 2010, agreed that a green future is not just a major concern of non-governmental organizations and environmentalists; it is also a priority on the agenda of the forest products and paper industry.
“Japan Paper Association (JPA) is delighted to have the opportunity to discuss and exchange opinions with the forestry industry as the host country of the meeting”, said Masataka Hayama, President of JPA. “We look forward to a continued exchange and partnership with FAO”, continued Mr Hayama. “Wood is a recyclable and renewable material and the life cycle doesn’t end when wood is harvested”, highlighted Michael Peter, Executive Director of Forestry South Africa. In fact, not only is carbon stored in trees, but, once trees are harvested, not just the end products but the replanted areas as well, continue to store carbon.
“Investors are recognizing the green opportunities inherent in forests and forest products, we would welcome even more investment to the sector”, stated Marie S. Arwidson, Managing Director of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation. This underscores the need to see the link between carbon sequestration and forestry. “Another challenge is the common perception that the forest would shrink if it is utilized. The contrary is true”, emphasised Michael Peter. “Whenever consumers buy sustainably harvested wood products, they help the forest industry keep the forests vibrant and growing through re-investment and new plantings.”
The growing population and the need to mitigate climate change bring an essential role for the world forests. Sustainable management of forests is a prerequisite in meeting the future world demand for products and services, while achieving the low carbon economy. This puts the industry in the centre of the debate, with policies influencing industry development. “For this, the partnership between the industry sector and FAO is so crucial” emphasized Teresa Presas, President of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations.
“Government policies have an effect in the development of the forest industry. Sustainable future wood supply for this sector will be highly dependent on enabling and predictable policies, reconciling climate change, conservations and competitiveness objectives” said Bernard de Galembert, Forest & Research Director of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).
“Energy policy and carbon policy are high priorities for both national governments and international bodies. In this context”, stressed Avrim Lazar, President and CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), “FAO has a unique role to play as catalyst of cross-sectoral cooperative measures and facilitator of the debate between the diverse actors and policy makers”.
The industry is responding positively to winds of change. It could be the dawn of a new era, and the upcoming International Year of Forests might help catalyze this transformation – with a wealth of opportunities lying ahead, from innovation to diversification. “Let’s be future oriented: let’s say what the future value sets are, what is it that people will be looking for”, concluded the meeting. The forest and paper industry has a lot to offer. Government support and partnership across sectors will be key to facing future challenges.
CEPI: European Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries opposes EU unilateral move to -30%
Further unilateral EU constraints and costs will threaten EU economy
The European Commission is discussing internally proposals by „Climate Action‟ Directorate to move the unilateral EU emission reduction target further down to -30%.
The Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries calls upon the Commission not to further develop a -30% unilateral policy, but to focus instead on international negotiations and the long term policy of meeting the 2050 targets while keeping a competitive industry in Europe.
Unfortunately COP15 in Copenhagen did not deliver a binding global agreement to tackle climate change. The EU offer in Copenhagen to move to -30% did not trigger readiness to accept similar binding commitments by other regions.
We recall that the EU had made the commitment to move to a -30% emission reduction by 2020 only "provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and that developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities."
Scenarios suggesting that the EU could now move to a more ambitious target (since the costs did not in theory substantially exceed those originally envisaged for the 20% target) do not take into account new economic realities: the economic downturn has in fact dramatically reduced the capacity of EU industry and society to cope with unilateral burdens. Even a desirable fast economic recovery will not automatically put the EU in a position ready to take on additional unilateral constraints - prohibiting unrealistic, macro-economic forecasting and extrapolations.
Global growth of manufacturing industry will continue with or without EU participation. However, the EU has the choice to participate while providing the technologies necessary to reduce GHG emissions, or to stimulate an exodus of EU industry without developing breakthrough technologies in Europe.
The global economic crisis has not relieved carbon leakage pressures on EU industries: according to the EC, the EU lost millions of jobs (10% in 4Q2009) and 20% of manufacturing output during 2009. Currently „low‟ market prices of carbon reflect the collapse in consumer demand, the slow-down of economic activity of manufacturing industries and the consequent reduction in emissions. However, EU industries’ exposure to competing economies without carbon constraints has by no means decreased and must not be further increased by additional, unilateral policies that have proven to be unsuccessful in international negotiations earlier on.
It is unacceptable to suggest manipulating carbon markets by withholding allowances from the market in order to reach environmental objectives in isolation from the rest of the world. This would further destabilise industrial operators‟ prospects under the EU emissions trading system: cancelling allowances in order to reach even more ambitious targets restricts EU companies‟ ability to purchase emission rights, and causes increases of direct costs and electricity prices, further endangering industries’ ability to operate in Europe. Such
policies run against the EU Lisbon Agenda and the EU 2020 Strategy. Moreover, industry still awaits the regulatory proposal for compensation for the CO2 costs in electricity prices; these indirect cost impacts must also be integrated when assessing the risk of carbon leakage.
EU industries are already operating under the most stringent climate change and environmental policies worldwide while at the same time exposed to international competition. European Energy Intensive Industries will play their part in meeting the EU ETS 2020 target of -21% which effectively is 30% to 35% compared to 1990 levels. This already constitutes a major challenge to industry.
Industry understands the need to draft new policies after Copenhagen in order to meet the two degree objective, comparable to a global -50% by 2050 and to do so cost-effectively. However, only an international agreement that will include equal commitments from all developed countries and an adequate contribution of other developing countries, whilst also providing equal treatment and thus a level playing field for globally traded goods, will be able to tackle the global issue of climate change.
Europe’s energy-intensive industries have an aggregated turnover of more than 1000 billion Euros per year and provide direct employment to over 3 million people. Manufacturing is closely interlinked with Europe’s entire economic fabric, downstream processing, R&D and innovation.
For more information on this issue, please contact Marco Mensink, CEPI Energy and Environment Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
European paper industry calls for wood supply in line with EU policies
“Use of wood must have the same criteria of sustainability and efficiency whether it is used for paper manufacturing, furniture or energy,” stated Teresa Presas, CEPI Managing Director, at the Forest Protection Conference of the EU Presidency in Spain that closed today. “Forest protection, including biodiversity, must take into account on the one hand a EU raw material policy and external economic policy, and, on the other hand, environmental policy and energy policy,” she concluded.
When assessing environmentally harmful subsidies, the financial support to the use of biomass for renewable energy must be analysed in the light of its energy efficiency and the sustainability of its production and procurement. Wood for manufacturing is crossing the oceans into Europe because European wood is being burnt for energy.
CEPI – the Confederation of European Paper Industries - is very keen in contributing to a dialogue where all these complex aspects would be clearly laid out. Positive things are happening in the sector, but the industry needs clarity and consistency, it needs reconciling different policies related to forests and wood.
Already in 2007, a McKinsey study revealed that the implementation of the 20% target for renewable energy in 2020 will potentially generate a gap of wood supply of 200 - 250 million cubic meters. This is equivalent to the annual amount of wood needed for the whole European paper and wood working industries.
At this very day wood and paper mills had to stop production for lack of raw material, mainly due to absence of EU action on raw materials or conflicting policies. The future of the European paper chain is at risk.
The Green Paper on forest protection recently published by the European Commission and presented at the conference states clearly the need to optimise a sustainable wood supply, and proposes the development of new internal sources of wood. Making more wood available in a sustainable way is the only way to ensure there is enough raw material to keep industry running. The European paper industry is an expert in sourcing wood responsibly and in a sustainable manner.
Europe is expecting the EU2020 strategy as the direction for the next 10 years. The way forward must use an integrated approach of different policies and different needs, in order to secure our raw materials and to take Europe into a smart, sustainable, and inclusive economy.
Paper and board output in 2009 falls by around 11%
After a difficult year, during which the industry encountered more down-time and capacity closures as a result of the weakened global economy the indications are that CEPI member countries produced less than 90 million tonnes of paper and board in 2009, the lowest annual total production since 2001. This represents a fall in the region of around 11% over 2008, which is slightly better than the European manufacturing industry taken as a whole. It would appear that the overall output performance of the CEPI countries in total during 2009 is much the same as that of the other major paper producing regions of the world.
CEPI offers new statistics packages
CEPI – the Confederation of European Paper industries - has expanded its offer on statistics packages. Next to a full set of 'Annual Statistics' from the European pulp and paper industry, which includes country data as well as production figures, CEPI now offers several new packages including a quarterly and even monthly package of statistics.
The packages can be combined in a very flexible way. Four different statistics packages are available, which were created to meet the needs of stakeholders from the pulp and paper industry.
When paper values meet EU values
CEPI comments and input for the consultation on the future "EU 2020" strategy: a new strategy to make the EU a smarter, greenersocial market. The EU Commission launched a consultation on the future EU 2020 strategy - a new strategy to make EU a smarter, greener and social market - on 24 November 2009 and asked for responses from stakeholders. Through this paper, CEPI - the Confederation of European Paper Industries - wishes to contribute to the consultation, give comments on the proposed vision for 2020 and the 3 thematic objectives, with a special focus on the industrial policy.
Slovenian paper and board association joins CEPI as new Member
The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is pleased to announce that as of January 2010 the Paper and Paper Converting Industry Association of Slovenia has become its newest associate member. The Slovenian association gathers seven paper and board producers and many other paper and board converters. Together they produce 1,123,859 tonnes of paper, board and other converted paper products per year.