{"id":10425,"date":"2016-11-04T01:06:13","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T05:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/weyerhaeuser-nyse-wy-forest-ecosystems-surviving-bark-beetles-and-more\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T01:06:13","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T05:06:13","slug":"weyerhaeusers-forest-ecosystems-surviving-bark-beetles-and-more","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/weyerhaeusers-forest-ecosystems-surviving-bark-beetles-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Weyerhaeuser\u2019s Forest Ecosystems: Surviving Bark Beetles and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forest ecosystem landscape<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Forest ecosystems, which absorb carbon, are nature\u2019s solution to the challenges posed by climate change.\u00a0 Extreme climate events, however, both directly and indirectly affect the sustainability of forests.\u00a0 Storms, droughts, and floods can damage trees, while higher temperatures and changes in precipitation can impact the formation and function of forest ecosystems.\u00a0 Indirect effects include the increased likelihood of \u201cdisturbance events\u201d such as insect outbreaks due to rising temperatures.\u00a0 A bark beetle outbreak, for example, damaged more than 3.8 million acres of forest in the U.S. and other beetle outbreaks have resulted in the loss of approximately three billion board feet of timber in Alaska over the past three decades [1].<\/p>\n

Effect of climate change on Weyerhaeuser and vice-versa, and measures taken by the Company<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Weyerhaeuser is one of the world\u2019s largest forest products companies, and owns and manages over seven million acres of commercial timberlands [2].\u00a0 The Company grows and harvests trees and manufactures pulp, paper, lumber, wood and other building products.\u00a0 Weyerhaeuser\u2019s management has continually strived to incorporate climate and weather factors into its business and operational strategy.\u00a0 On one hand, the Company\u2019s timberlands are subject to the direct and indirect effects of climate change mentioned above.\u00a0 On the other hand, the Company needs to monitor its greenhouse gas emissions since its large manufacturing mills create a significant carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

In December 2007, over one-third of Weyerhaeuser\u2019s timberlands were severely impacted by a series of inclement weather events [3].\u00a0 Realizing the need to improve its risk assessment procedures, the Company instituted programs to constantly enhance its geological screening process.\u00a0 These programs include new technologies that use geographic- and species-specific forecasting models and light detection and ranging technology to study the relationship between local and regional climate changes and long-term forest growth and yield [1].\u00a0 Key findings are regularly used to optimize central planning models that aim to quantify risks by geographic region based on past trends.\u00a0 This ongoing climate change assessment allows the Company to be more proactive than reactionary, capturing any potential shifts in climate and the corresponding areas of potential vulnerability early.<\/p>\n

\"2020_goal_-_ghg_2015_on_track\"\"carbon_sequestration_chart_2015-01\"<\/a>\"greenhouse_gases_chart_2015-01\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Concurrently, the Company is also committed to limiting its effect on climate change and has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020, compared to a year 2000 baseline.\u00a0 At the end of 2015, the Company had already reduced emissions by 29% compared to its baseline 2000 level [4].\u00a0 To help achieve this target, as well as other sustainability metrics, the Company instituted a Climate Change Steering Team to guide Weyerhaeuser\u2019s positions and goals on climate change.\u00a0 Additional goals included enhancing ecosystem services, managing water resources better, and adopting sustainable forestry standards [1].<\/p>\n

Additional threats and opportunities, and analyses that can be undertaken<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As Weyerhaeuser continues to maneuver through climate change, it faces a slew of additional climate change-related threats and opportunities.\u00a0 Threats include new proposals for carbon legislation at the federal and local levels, varying costs of energy, definitions of biomass as a renewable energy form, and other policy changes governed by regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Ecology.\u00a0 Opportunities include the growth in demand of renewable forest-based products, for which biomass acts as a raw material, both for existing lines of production and new product extensions, as well as the opportunity to participate in the carbon-trading markets [4].<\/p>\n

In addition to considering issues related to its emissions profile, Weyerhaeuser should evaluate the carbon-intensity of its profits and develop analyses around the following questions.\u00a0 What percentage of profits is derived from products with high carbon dioxide emissions?\u00a0 What is the impact of climate change on raw material costs, direct costs, facility upgrade and maintenance costs?\u00a0 How will the risk profile impact insurance costs?\u00a0 How will revenue be affected by the ability to pass these costs through?\u00a0 What potential new pricing structures can be implemented?\u00a0 What is the likelihood of emissions being taxed?\u00a0 When would it be appropriate to enter the carbon-trading markets?\u00a0 What is the impact of weather patterns on revenue? [5]\u00a0 It is evident that Weyerhaeuser\u2019s climate change strategy has allowed the Company to adapt its internal controls and processes, but being able to quantify the threats and opportunities creates a robust foundation for sustainable growth and development.<\/p>\n

Word Count: 708<\/p>\n

[1]\u00a0 “CASE STUDY: WEYERHAEUSER.” 2013. Accessed November 4, 2016. http:\/\/www.c2es.org\/docUploads\/cs-weyerhauser.pdf.<\/p>\n

[2]\u00a0 “Weyerhaeuser: Timberlands.” Weyerhaeuser. 2016. Accessed November 04, 2016. http:\/\/www.weyerhaeuser.com\/timberlands\/.<\/p>\n

[3] “DECEMBER 2007 STORMS.” 2008. Accessed November 4, 2016. http:\/\/weyerhaeuser.com\/files\/5714\/2420\/6339\/2007_Storm_Sustainability_Report.pdf.<\/p>\n

[4] “Climate Change & Biomass.” Weyerhaeuser. 2016. Accessed November 04, 2016. http:\/\/www.weyerhaeuser.com\/sustainability\/environment\/environmental-footprint\/climate-change-biomass\/.<\/p>\n

[5] “Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet.” 性视界 Business Review. 2014. Accessed November 04, 2016. https:\/\/hbr.org\/2007\/03\/competitive-advantage-on-a-warming-planet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Weyerhaeuser\u2019s climate change strategy is integral to its business model. 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