Forest Industry Leaders Address Climate Change and Sustainability in Shanghai

    SHANGHAI, China, June 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the 3rd CEO Roundtable of
the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) took place
in Shanghai, China. More than 70 CEO's and association leaders attended the
meeting to address issues of common interest including sustainability, climate
change and energy.
    On the occasion of the G8 Summit in Berlin this week the industry
representatives launched their first sustainability update and recognised the
importance of tackling the issue of climate change.
    The wood and paper sector affirmed the vital and constructive role that
it plays in combating climate change and confirmed its intention to further
reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Industry leaders noted that the forest
industry can contribute to mitigate climate change in a number of ways:

    - Where communities can earn a living from the forest and sustain a
      livelihood, there is an incentive to keep, renew and expand the forest,
      thus avoiding deforestation and its negative impact on climate and
      biodiversity. This supports the industry's commitment to sustainable
      management of forests, which are a renewable resource.
    - Forests and forest products provide excellent storage of carbon and
      wood has a preferable carbon footprint to alternative materials.
      Moreover, recycling of paper and wood reduces emissions from landfills.
    - The industry is committed to innovative energy solutions that increase
      efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and expand the use of
      renewable energy sources.

    According to the first ICFPA "Sustainability Progress Update" launched
today, the industry has continuously improved its sustainability performance
through a variety of initiatives. ICFPA members have invested in certification
systems ensuring sustainable forest management standards are met. They also
actively participated in initiatives to protect forests from illegal logging.
Additionally, many ICFPA members have formally adopted paper recovery goals or
signed on to broader multi-product recycling programmes to increase the amount
of recovered paper available.
    "The ICFPA is committed to providing sustainability updates on a biennial
basis to keep stakeholders informed of the industry's actions and performance
as well as to motivate continual improvement among members." says
Teresa Presas, President of the ICFPA and Managing Director of CEPI, the
Confederation of European Paper Industries.
    A full copy of the Sustainability Progress Update and the original
leadership statement are available on the ICFPA Web site at: www.icfpa.org.

    ICFPA (http://www.icfpa.org) is comprised of trade associations in 43
countries representing industries accounting for 90 percent of the world's
paper and more than 50 percent of the world's wood production. ICFPA serves as
a forum for joint action in areas ranging from communications to data
collection. ICFPA is committed to the principles of sustainable development
and to working with other stakeholders to ensure that environmental, social
and economic benefits of our natural resources are available to current and
future generations.

    PRESIDENT
    Teresa Presas, Confederation of European Paper Industries

    WORK GROUP
    Avrim Lazar, Forest Products Association of Canada
    Mario Leonel, Associaçco Brasileira de Celulose e Papel
    Donna A. Harman, American Forest & Paper Association
    Yoshiaki Umemura, Japan Paper Association

    SECRETARIAT
    c/o CEPI aisbl
    250 Avenue Louise
    Box 80
    B - 1050 Brussels
    Belgium

For further information: Daniela Haiduc, Communications and Public
Affairs Officer, CEPI aisbl - Confederation of European Paper Industries, +32
2 627 49 15, d.haiduc@cepi.org; Isabelle Des Chênes, Director, Communications,
Forest Products Association of Canada, (613) 563-1441 ext : 323,
ideschenes@fpac.ca