Timber in Building: A Promising Pathway for Climate Action Through a Perception-Based Analysis

The construction sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the embodied carbon of conventional materials, including concrete and steel. Timber offers a sustainable alternative, extending carbon storage and supporting circular economic strategies. This study assesses the potential of timber as a low-carbon building material in Mexico by combining a literature review with the perspectives of fifty stakeholders from forestry, wood processing, architecture, and academia. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and an online snowball-sampled survey. Findings indicate that timber can reduce embodied carbon by 30–50%, lower onsite waste by up to 30%, improve energy efficiency, and sequester 1–1.6 t CO₂ m⁻³ over a building’s life cycle. However, adoption is hindered by regulatory gaps, limited technical expertise, cultural biases regarding durability and fire safety, and higher upfront costs of engineered wood. The study recommends updating building codes, establishing fire safety standards, promoting financial incentives, and strengthening education programs to enhance technical capacity. By addressing these barriers, timber construction can be mainstreamed in Mexico’s urban development, advancing circular economy goals and contributing to global climate mitigation.