The footprint of urban construction is expanding rapidly. Globally, building floor area could double by 2060. Constructing and maintaining urban infrastructure requires significant amounts of energy and material resources. Consequently, how cities build—and with what materials—directly impacts whether sustainability goals are achievable or even realistic. Cities must ensure they are using low-impact, renewable materials. This challenge presents a clear opportunity for wood.
When sustainably harvested, wood can support economies, communities, policies, and technologies that help keep forests intact and reduce the pressure to convert forested land to other uses. These practices can even help protect the planet's most valuable and biodiverse forests. However, to fully realize the benefits of building with wood, its production, distribution, procurement, and use must be environmentally sound.
