Paper II.
3
BIOCHAR: A WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA
AND THE WORLD
Robert Whitfield,
Action for a Global Climate Community
1.
Introduction
Biochar can sequester massive amounts of carbon in the soil for hundreds to
thousands of yearsi
.
It has the potential to be...
More
Paper II.
3
BIOCHAR: A WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA
AND THE WORLD
Robert Whitfield,
Action for a Global Climate Community
1.
Introduction
Biochar can sequester massive amounts of carbon in the soil for hundreds to
thousands of yearsi
.
It has the potential to be an efficient carbon sink whilst providing
strong co-benefits.
Pre-Columbian Amazonian Indians used it to enhance soil
productivity and made it by smouldering agricultural waste.
They called it “Terra
Preta de Indio.
” Its modern equivalent is being developed using pyrolysis to heat
biomass in the absence of oxygen.
Modern biochar production can be combined with biofuel production in a process that
is energy positive - producing 3-9 times more energy than invested, and carbonnegativeii
- withdrawing CO2 from the atmosphere and rebuilding geological carbon
sinks.
With temperature thresholds, or “tipping points”, as close as ten years away
for abrupt and irreversible climate changes, including catastrophic sea-level rise, the
need
Less