A recent report published by the Finnish Environment Institute examines the climate impacts of using wood to generate energy. Bioenergy can replace fossil fuels, which are more harmful for the climate, the report concludes.When wood is burned to generate energy, the carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere a little faster than if the wood was left to rot in the forest. However, a slight speed-up to the natural carbon cycle is better than using fossil fuels, according to the Finnish report. Fossil fuels release carbon that has not been in the atmosphere over hundreds of millions of years. Burning fossil fuels leads to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide content and global warming. Producing renewable energy by burning forest residue is sustainable from the climate and environment perspectives, because the released carbon is rebound by growing forests.Processable wood should not, however, be burned to generate energy, if it can be used in carbon-storing products, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation writes in a press release. Forest energy should be produced from wood that is unsuitable for use as product raw material and would otherwise be left to rot in the forest. Increased utilization of wood for products also brings more forest residue available for energy use, according to the Federation.