Torbjörn Skytt

Doctoral student in Ecotechnology

Torbjörn Skytt is a forest owner and scientist with a driving desire to understand the world's climate issues. It may sound intangible, but Torbjörn believes that he has found a way by studying the green house balance within a limited area – Jämtland. 

Studies energy flows

Since 2015, Torbjörn Skytt is a doctoral student at the Mid Sweden University and has cooperated with scientists in Copenhagen. He has turned his gaze towards the forests of Jämtland, which he studies together with other Swedish scientists.

– I study the energy flows in Jämtland by mapping emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, but also the uptake of carbon dioxide. Through this geographical limitation, I have gotten a greater understanding for the global problems as well, he says. 

A Shaky Balance

The forest is unique in its ability to absorb carbon dioxide, creating biomass from it. This biomass can then be used in many different ways. This amazing ability is something we humans have not always thought of protecting. The excessive exploitation of the forest approximately one hundred years forced us to face the fact that our forests were on the verge of depletion. This caused a shift to an oil-based economy; oil and coal became the new "gold". This shift paved the way for the automotive industry. But with the negative effect that fossil fuels have had on the climate and the environment we are again in a predicament where we can see the need to make a change—to simply shift back, says Torbjörn Skytt

– This raises questions about the perspective of balance. For example, how do we know that the renewability of the forest will be sufficient in the end? How much carbon dioxide can the forest manage to absorb and what amounts do we emit? Renewability is all well and good, but it is difficult to calculate the carbon balance effects of tree felling and the climate benefit that the felling provides compared to letting the forest continue to grow. We must first decide upon a time perspective and then determine the effects that different measures have on the climate within that perspective. 

Photographer: Torbjörn Skytt