If we moved to a biomass-dominated energy resource (burning firewood), we would

Question

If we moved to a biomass-dominated energy resource (burning firewood), we would be releasing about 1.5 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere for every pound of firewood burned. Assuming that we are harvesting wood at the same rate as we are replenishing it with new growth, does the net amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increase? Given that CO2 is the primary culprit in global warming, will a sustained biomass reliance worsen our global warming problem? Think hard about this one%u2014and, of course, explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

Since trees absorb their carbon dioxide from the air, all of the carbon dioxide within the wood must be taken from the air, and thus if you were harvesting wood at the rate it was growing then there would be no net change in carbon dioxide in the air, so theoretically, relying on biomass would not increase carbon dioxide. However, in the real world, it takes a long time for forests to regrow and it is better to have plants available to be a sink for carbon dioxide.

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