Choosing timber in design and construction can help tackle climate change in several ways. One of the most important is that wood stores carbon. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, emit oxygen and store carbon.  Carbon remains locked in the wood for the life of the piece of timber until it rots, decays or is burnt. Some wood constructions can even last up to hundreds of years. Mature trees absorb less carbon than younger, faster growing trees, therefore it could be beneficial in the battle on climate change to cut the older trees, use them in construction and plant new carbon storing trees in their place.