Is Climate Change an opportunity for us or not?

At Raute, we are deeply linked to the health of this ecosystem. As a technology partner to the wood products industry, our success is woven into our customers' ability to thrive. We see firsthand how environmental pressures and market demands are reshaping operations, making the need for strategic foresight more critical than ever. We must understand the deep, structural shifts affecting our industry's raw material supply.

This urgent challenge is laid bare by Bernard De Galembert, Director of the Forest Solutions Group at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He points to a sobering analysis from Standard & Poor’s, finding "the forest sector is the second most exposed sector to climate risk," yet "among the least prepared to respond." De Galembert’s analysis points to a three-part path forward, centered on radical adaptation, reframing wood as a solution, and striking a new balance between competitiveness and sustainability.

Key Takeaway 1: Proactively Adapt the Forest Itself

The forests that supply our industry are under immense pressure from biotic threats like pests and abiotic risks like droughts and windstorms. The devastation seen in North America and Central Europe raises a fundamental question. "Will the wood we use today be still the same we will use tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?" De Galembert asks.

A reactive stance is no longer sufficient. De Galembert argues for proactive adaptation, including the once-radical idea of assisted migration. "Can we accompany," he posits, "the migration of trees from their current stand to their future stance? Whether eucalyptus that grows currently in Portugal...will eventually be growing in France or Germany...this is something that must be reflected upon and prepared."

This ambitious adaptation must be supported by technological innovation. He points to advances in "biotechnologies and genetical improvement of species to make them either drought resistant or flood resistant" as essential tools. This means the industry must move beyond traditional forestry and embrace a new approach of scientific partnership to build the resilient forests of the future.

Key Takeaway 2: Embrace Wood as a Climate Solution

While climate change is often viewed solely as a threat, De Galembert argues it also presents "massive opportunities." This is rooted in the unique properties of wood as a raw material in a decarbonizing world.

Beyond the forest's role as a carbon sink, "wood as a raw material is a fantastic opportunity, especially in the construction sector," he explains. Its insulation benefits and "technological resistance to temperature variations, to earthquakes, to catastrophes" make it a prime material for sustainable building. This allows the sector to position itself as a key partner in the green economy.

However, De Galembert is clear that these gains are only possible for a sector that "has adapted rapidly, and taken onboard the challenges, as well as these opportunities."

Key Takeaway 3: Balance Competitiveness with Sustainability and Circularity

To navigate this new landscape, a fundamental mindset shift is required. For years, the industry has wrestled with how to best bring together "competitiveness and sustainability." A recent lean towards sustainability has, for some, led to "losing sight of the competitiveness element," a balance the current global context is forcing back into stability.

The urgent need now is to "make sure that competitiveness and sustainability work hand in hand." This new pact must extend to the entire product lifecycle. It is "time for the sector to consider reuse, recycling, upcycling of existing raw materials," which requires "thinking the design of the product in a way that can be reused, can be recycled, can be upcycled."

At Raute, this is where our role becomes critical. The drive for sustainability must be supported by profitability. Our technologies, from intelligent analyzers that maximize wood yield to automated lines that reduce waste, are designed to bolster the competitiveness of our customers. By helping mills get more value from every log, we empower them to meet sustainability goals without sacrificing their economic viability.

The message from De Galembert is a clear call to action. With global warming accelerating "much faster than anticipated," the forest sector must "act now...plan...and make sure that it will be thriving in 20, 30 or 50 years from now." To do so, it will need foresight, innovation, and strategic partnerships. 

Watch the full interview video (by clicking the image below) with Bernard De Galembert to get a deeper understanding of the risks, opportunities, and strategic imperatives facing the forest sector, and to discover why now is the critical moment to act.