With the eyes of the world on COP26 in the first two weeks of November, the global timber industry is collectively hosting the World of Wood Festival in London.
This six-week celebration of global timber and global forests takes place from 25 October to 3 December 2021 at the Building Centre, and virtually around the world.
The World of Wood Festival tells the story of how global forests and the wood products cycle is helping to avert climate change, decarbonising construction, and supporting social, environmental and economic growth through governance in developing countries. Within these connected themes, one key message prevails and remains more crucial than ever: that wood equals hope.
The Building Centre will host exhibitions telling the story of global forest management with a focus on European, North America and tropical timber forests and production. This will be accompanied by a series of hybrid and physical events including keynote speeches, debates, webinars, and report launches calling for policy change.
The Festival will also exhibit the Wood Awards shortlist as a celebration of the ultimate expression of design in wood and responsibly sourced timber from around the globe, and will host the winners' ceremony later in November.
This is all supported by an event website www.worldofwoodfestival.org as a key resource and home for timber products, forests and climate information from the Festival’s supporters from all over the world, and a WOW Festival mobile augmented reality app will be launched for the start of the festival.
EVENTS
GLOBAL LAUNCH OF THE WORLD OF WOOD FESTIVAL
26 October 2021, 16:00-17:00 BST | ONLINE
Welcome to the World of Wood (WoW).
Attendees to our digital launch will learn about the scope of the festival, the two manifestos being launched by the global timber industry at COP26, the Wood Awards, and our online offerings, including a new website and APP.
OPENING OF THE WORLD OF WOOD FESTIVAL IN LONDON
28 October 2021, 18:30 - 20:30 BST | PHYSICAL
The Building Centre in London is poised to be the physical centre of the World of Wood (WoW).
This evening event will be a chance to network for built environment, forest supply chain and climate policy experts ahead of COP26. It will also be the first chance to take a look at the Wood Awards physical exhibition at the Building Centre
LIVE FROM COP26
2 November 2021, 16:00-17:00 GMT | ONLINE
Come learn about the launch of our new global timber manifestos at COP26
Paul Brannen will be reporting live from COP26 as a representative of the global timber industry on the events of the day by talking through some of the key aspects of the manifestos launched, how they have been received, and events coming up during the week.
COUNTING CARBON
4 November, 16:00-17:00 GMT | ONLINE
To make a difference to carbon emissions we need to be able to measure them.
At this event you will learn how you can account for embodied carbon emissions in your building projects, with the launch of a new technical paper from Timber Development UK.
GLOBAL FORESTS NEED GLOBAL TIMBER
9 November 2021, 14:00 - 20:00 GMT | PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL
Better governance must be at the heart of sustaining global forests.
Join in on a day time session at the Building Centre where the FLEGT Independent Market Monitor will share findings from its work tracking timber market legality assurance development and impacts on trade flows, before an evening networking opportunity for you to hear from the experts behind 'Global Forests need Global Timber'.
DECARBONISING OUR CITIES: BUILDING TALL WITH TIMBER
11 November 2021, 15:00-17:00 GMT | ONLINE
Learn about world-leading timber buildings in cities across Asia, Europe, the USA, and the UK.
Using material and design innovations using wood, architects, engineers, scientists and city planners are rapidly moving us away from the carbon-intensive methods and materials towards a new ‘Wood Age’, which works in harmony with nature.
DECARBONISING OUR CITIES: BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS
16 November 2021, 16:00-18:00 GMT | PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL
Timber can help make construction low-carbon. But, there are a number of barriers to achieving this.
Here we hear from world leading examples in Sweden which have achieved not just single timber buildings but timber development at a whole town scale. We will find out from them how they have achieved this and what they had to overcome. Join us in person at the Building Centre or online
THE REALITY OF GLOBAL TIMBER SUPPLY
18 November 2021, 16:00-18:00 GMT | ONLINE
This event seeks to answer the question of where future supplies of timber will come from.
Do we have enough timber in the world to meet growing demand? Are we planting enough trees? How will climate change affect global supply? How can we ensure that demand for timber enhances rather than diminishes forests? These questions have never been more pertinent.
DESIGNING THE TIMBER BEACON
23 November 2021, 16:00-17:00 GMT | ONLINE
World of Wood gives you the inside story of how the Timber Beacon originally proposed for COP26 was designed.
Architect Steve Wallis from dRMM and engineer Shingi Tarirah from Whitby Wood will discuss how the project was developed from concept, through detailed design and designing for transportation to allow for the temporary structure to be fabricated, assembled and then disassembled at end of use.
WOOD AWARDS 2021
25 November 2021, 18:30-20:30 GMT | PHYSICAL
Invited guests will find out the winners of the Wood Awards 2021.
The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier competition for excellence in architecture and product design in wood. Since 1971, these awards have recognized and encouraged outstanding wood design craftsmanship and installation. You can view this year's nominees online and visit the exhibition.
Invite only
UPSKILLING OUR FUTURE BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONALS
30 November 2021, 18:00-20:00 GMT | PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL
To address the climate crisis we need to equip people with the skills to succeed.
Following the success of the Riverside Sunderland Design Challenge 2021 (RSUDC21), Timber Development UK is launching a new competition to engage and upskill the next generation of architects, engineers, and surveyors with the knowledge they need to build climate resilient, energy efficient, healthy and low-carbon homes for the future with timber. Join us at the Building Centre or online.
TOMORROW'S TIMBER
1 December 2021, 16:00-17:00 GMT | ONLINE
Pablo Van Der Lugt talks us through his book 'Tomorrow's Timber' and timber's role in the next building revolution.
Building a skyscraper? Forget about steel and concrete, says architect Michael Green, and build it out of … wood. As he details in this intriguing talk, it's not only possible to build safe wooden structures up to 30 stories tall (and, he hopes, higher), it's necessary.
Locations
All physical events are being held at The Building Centre in London, WC1E 7BT (map). Please ensure you register for an 'In-Person' ticket, as spaces are limited.
All digital events are being held via ZOOM. Register for the event via EventBrite and you will be sent a link to join ahead of the digital room opening.
The World of Wood was devised and coordinated by the UK Timber Trade Federation and CEI-Bois, representing European woodworking industries; the team has created an alliance of over 40 separate associations, organisations, businesses and campaigns representing global forest growth and development, engineered mass timber and wood-based products from Indonesia to Ghana, Australia, North America and China.
This initiative is also supported by UK Aid, under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s FGMC programme (Forest Governance, Markets and Climate).
