Wooden skyscrapers

Please note: This item is from our archives and was published in 2021. It is provided for historical reference. The content may be out of date and links may no longer function.

Mjøstårnet, an 18-storey building in Norway with apartments, a hotel, office space, and a restaurant, is currently the tallest timber building in the world.

Mjøstårnet, an 18-storey building in Norway with apartments, a hotel, office space, and a restaurant, is currently the tallest timber building in the world.

More than half of the world’s people today live in urban areas, and the UN projects that this share will soar to 68% by 2050. As cities grow larger, more houses, roads, and public infrastructure are needed. Architects in recent years have been looking at engineered timber as an answer to constructing sustainable cities. Proponents say production of wood materials generates less carbon emissions compared to concrete and steel, but others point to unaccounted negative impacts of using wood such as soil carbon loss. Management accountants play a key role in weighing costs against benefits and in helping steer organisations in the right direction.

Up Next

Overspending on AI is a concern for CFOs — but it’s not the only one

By Steph Brown
October 21, 2026
AI costs are exceeding budgeted amounts for many survey respondents, but finance leaders in the UK, US, France, and Germany remain confident in AI’s value.

Related Articles

Why time matters in carbon accounting
AI tools for finance professionals — Which one and when? Part 1