This is an important exchange. I strongly agree with Brad that our central objective should be to help decision-makers have the information they need to be confident in their sourcing decisions in the interest of climate change mitigation.
I also agree strongly agree with Ara that we already have a great deal of information that takes a long way toward providing that confidence. Three straight-forward facts stand out:
- Private working forests provide nearly all of the wood used in the built environment.
- These forests are already carbon negative.
- Certification programs are providing credible assurances of important co-benefits beyond carbon mitigation.
It is truly unique to be working with a sector that begins from a carbon negative position and is positioned to do even more. Let’s embrace that early win as our starting point, and then work together to improve upon it using approaches that unite us rather than divide us. Doing so will help us maintain a progressive, forward looking orientation that resists personal or ideological preferences and the temptation to resurfacing past conflicts.