The IPCC and Biochar – 2018 RE: [biochar] Australian farmers using biochar can now be paid through regenerative agriculture.

Don and all,

Thanks. I followed the link and found what I wanted: The ACTUAL words from the IPCC about Soil Carbon Sequestration (SCS) and Biochar (Section 4.3.7.3). They are in
“Section 4.3.7 Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). CDR methods refer to a set of techniques for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. In the context of 1.5°C-consistent pathways (Chapter 2), they serve to offset residual emissions and, in most cases, achieve net negative emissions to return to 1.5°C from an overshoot. See Cross-Chapter Box 7 in Chapter 3 for a synthesis of land-based CDR options. Cross-cutting issues and uncertainties are summarized in Table 4.6. “

The IPCC has given us only 399 words (481 if you count the citations) upon which we can hang our hats and our claims. Well, actually only 216 words are about biochar, fewer than the words allowed in an abstract for a conference presentation. Those words are below and in the attached document for ease of future referencing.

But we rejoice!!! Biochar was named by the IPCC !!! We need to build upon those words. We need to cite the ORIGINAL IPCC document!!! And claim our place among the ACKNOWLEDGED methods for CDR.

Biochar is formed by recalcitrant (i.e., very stable) organic carbon obtained from pyrolysis, which, applied to soil, can increase soil carbon sequestration leading to improved soil fertility properties. Looking at the full literature range, the global potential in 2050 lies between 1 and 35 Gt CO2 yr−1 (low agreement, low evidence), but considering limitations in biomass availability and uncertainties due to a lack of large-scale trials of biochar application to agricultural soils under field conditions) lower the 2050 range to 0.3–2 GtCO2 yr−1. This potential is below previous estimates, which additionally consider the displacement of fossil fuels through biochar. Permanence depends on soil type and biochar production temperatures, varying between a few decades and several centuries. Costs are 30– 120 USD tCO2−1 (medium agreement, medium evidence).

Water requirements are low and at full theoretical deployment, up to 65 EJ yr−1 of energy could be generated as a side product. Positive side effects include a favourable effect on nutrients and reduced N2O emissions. However, 40–260 Mha are needed to grow the biomass for biochar for implementation at 0.3 GtCO2-eq yr−1, even though it is also possible to use residues. Biochar is further constrained by the maximum safe holding capacity of soils and the labile nature of carbon sequestrated in plants and soil at higher temperatures.

Paul

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>

From: publicofficer@anzbi.org <publicofficer@anzbi.org>
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2019 12:14 AM
To: Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu>; biochar@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [biochar] Australian farmers using biochar can now be paid through regenerative agriculture.