Initial story • Since 1880, the Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 1 degree Celsius, leading to a sealevel rise of 9 centimeters in the past 30 years. • The increase in Earth's temperature is primarily attributed to greenhouse gases (GHGs) trapping heat in the atmosphere. Key GHGs contributing significantly to global warming include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. • Consequently, countries worldwide formulated the Paris Agreement in 2015, committing to keeping the global temperature increase below 2°C. This involves reducing activities that produce GHGs and increasing those that diminish GHG presence. • Biochar emerges as a solution to reduce greenhouse gases, offering potential soil fertility improvement and carbon sequestration. • Biochar augments sustainable agricultural practices. A study suggests that if biochar were applied to 10% of global cropland, it could sequester 29 billion tons of CO2 equivalent. • Furthermore, the biochar industry presents substantial benefits, with a projected global market size expected to reach USD 450.58 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.9% • However, despite its benefits, biochar also poses costs and uncertainties to stakeholders and the environment. • While biochar usage presents potential risks such as soil contamination and adverse effects on microbial activity, coupled with uncertainties in economic viability due to challenges in factors like feedstock acquisition and the nascent state of the market, its long-term impact remains unclear. • Biochar initiatives are feasible, yet they require further R&D and substantial marketing efforts to reduce uncertainty. Civil society, especially farmers, could use biochar more confidently to rehabilitate damaged lands, simultaneously benefiting the environment. Copyright ©2017 ShARE. All Rights Reserved 1
