Wood burning stoves cause global warming

Wood burning stoves are helping to fuel global warming, according to a new report from the United Nations, that calls on households to replace old fashioned fires with more efficient models.

The report from the UN Environment Programme found ‘black carbon’ from burning wood or diesel cars is a major factor in short term “climate forcing”.

Most of the problem is caused by dirty industry in the developing world like brick kilns or simple cooking stoves.

However more than 300,000 tonnes of black carbon emissions in Europe and North America comes from burning wood.

The report, funded by the Government of Sweden, suggested that cutting down on black carbon and methane emissions could reduce global warming by up to 0.4C between now and 2040.

Reducing the amount of soot and gases formed by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, wood and biomass would also save millions of lives around the world due to better air quality.

The report found the biggest reduction in black carbon would come from replacing smoky cookers in the developing world with fan assisted stoves, gas ovens or even solar.

But reductions could also be made in the developed world from upgrading dirty diesel cars and replacing old fashioned wood burning stoves with more efficient models.

It comes as hopes fade for a global deal at this year’s UN climate talks in Durban, adding urgency to the need to take action in areas where global warming can be tackled immediately.

Wood burning stoves are gaining in popularity in both the US and Europe as homes go back to ‘rustic’ fashion, the price of heating rises and households are encouraged to adopt the ‘green technology’. The report warned black carbon emissions in the developed world are expected to increase over the next 20 years, overtaking emissions from dirty diesel cars as transport becomes greener.

It estimated the impact could be almost halved by replacing wood burning stoves or boilers with more efficient technologies.

Pellet stoves and boilers are the most efficient models, although there are also stoves that look the same as old fashioned models but burn the wood in so there is less black carbon.

Joseph Alcamo, Chief scientist at UNEP, said there was no need to compromise on the “cosy” feeling only burning wood can provide.

“Whilst it is nice to burn wood in the evening and while it is better for the planet than burning coal, the reality is that is produces black carbon. Rather than feel guilty about it we suggest there are alternatives that provide the same comforts as wood burning stoves without producing the particulate pollution,” he said.

Most of the wood burning stoves are Norway, Sweden and Germany, where there are already measures to ensure stoves in cities are cleaner.

There is also more concern around black carbon in the Arctic Circle as particulate matter on ice caps and glaciers can accelerate warming because less sunlight is reflected back into space.

Svante Bodin, from the Swedish Environment Ministry, suggested that manufacturing standards should be introduced to make sure wood burning stoves in Europe are cleaner.

“So far black carbon has not been regulated but it would be easy to do that because manufacturers - if they know what we want - could take a definite step in changing design.”

In the UK a Renewable Heat Incentive will begin on Monday that pays households to generate heat from renewable technologies like wood.

Paul Thompson, head of policy at the Renewable Energy Association, said the scheme already has strict rules to ensure only clean wood burning stoves are allowed.

He said burning wood in rural areas is fine as air quality is better, but it might be a problem if more people in cities adopt the technology.

“In a lot of our urban areas we are already in breach of EU regulations on air quality. Although most of that is due to lorries and plane, wood burning stoves can make it worse,” he said.

“If you had a huge uptake of people in cities burning fires you would have a problem but at the moment it is not an issue.”

By Louise Gray