Conference on Wooden construction for CO2 reduction in the building sector

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has looked into the advantages of modern industrial wooden construction at the request of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The EESC adopted an exploratory opinion focusing on how EU proposals such as sustainable carbon cycles, the bioeconomy strategy and the New European Bauhaus can be used to drastically reduce the huge amounts of construction-related CO₂ emissions, store CO₂ and make construction more efficient.

The conference presented the main conclusions of the EESC's exploratory opinion on Wooden construction for CO₂ reduction in building sector and discussed the potential of timber construction in line with the EU's goal of climate neutrality with local experts, representatives of the wooden construction sector and civil society organisations. 

The conference was organised in the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. with the participation of the following guest speakers:

• Annika Wäppling-Korzinek, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Sweden
• Helene Holstein, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure 
• Susanne Rudenstam, Director for Construction at Swedish Wood
• Peter Holmgren, CEO of Future Vistas
• Jesper Lindholm, Swedish Building Workers' Trade Union (Sweden), Chair of the Europe Regional Committee
• Bernhard Egert, UBM Development, Spokesperson of the Austrian Timber Construction Platform
• Keith Fryer, Board Member of CEI-Bois