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Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Dominic Woolf

    (School of the Environment and Society, Swansea University, Singleton Park)

  • James E. Amonette

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • F. Alayne Street-Perrott

    (School of the Environment and Society, Swansea University, Singleton Park)

  • Johannes Lehmann

    (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University)

  • Stephen Joseph

    (The School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales)

Abstract

Production of biochar (the carbon (C)-rich solid formed by pyrolysis of biomass) and its storage in soils have been suggested as a means of abating climate change by sequestering carbon, while simultaneously providing energy and increasing crop yields. Substantial uncertainties exist, however, regarding the impact, capacity and sustainability of biochar at the global level. In this paper we estimate the maximum sustainable technical potential of biochar to mitigate climate change. Annual net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide could be reduced by a maximum of 1.8 Pg CO2-C equivalent (CO2-Ce) per year (12% of current anthropogenic CO2-Ce emissions; 1 Pg=1 Gt), and total net emissions over the course of a century by 130 Pg CO2-Ce, without endangering food security, habitat or soil conservation. Biochar has a larger climate-change mitigation potential than combustion of the same sustainably procured biomass for bioenergy, except when fertile soils are amended while coal is the fuel being offset.

Suggested Citation

  • Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:1:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1053
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1053
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