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UNFCCC COP15 Copenhagen Meetings, December 7 - 18, 2009: Confirmed Biochar Events

The UNFCCC COP15 is currently underway.  The meetings are scheduled for December 7 - 18, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The existing legally binding agreement (the Kyoto Protocol) which governs carbon emissions expires in 2012; the COP 15 in Copenhagen is working on a new agreement to clarify four key issues around climate change: ambitious emission reduction targets for developed countries; nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries; scaling up financial and technological support for both adaptation and mitigation; and an effective institutional framework with governance structures that address the needs of developing countries.

After a long year of multiple preparatory meetings in advance of the UNFCCC COP 15, IBI and other biochar advocates have been participating in the Copenhagen meetings. IBI Chairman of the Board Johannes Lehmann, IBI Board Treasurer Ellen Baum, and IBI Executive Director Debbie Reed are attending.

The events listed below are all those we are aware of pertaining to biochar. If you are aware of any other events, please let us know so we can post those as well. This page will be updated as more information becomes available. Please note that these events are being hosted by a number of different institutions and organizations and IBI will provide updates as we receive them.

Documents and Presentations from Copenhagen

Event Times and Details

Monday 7 December

Wednesday 9 December

Saturday 12 December

Monday, 7 December, 2009 EU Side Event

Time: 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Location: EU Pavilion
Organizers: European Commission, Joint Research Center
Title: Biochar application to soils – carbon sequestration and soil improvement potential

Description:
Biochar application to soil is intended to sequester organic carbon while concurrently improving soils. This side-event outlines biochar carbon sequestration potential, effects on soil properties, processes and functioning (agronomic and environmental), and examines biochar systems including cook stove experiences.

  • What evidence exists for all the factors involved in sequestering C by applying biochar to soils? - Towards a full life cycle assessment
  • What do we know about the effects of biochar on soil properties, processes and functions? – (heterogeneity)
  • How can biochar systems be designed to leverage multiple environmental and health benefits? –experiences from cook stove projects

Speakers and topics: 

  • Luca Montanarella, EC Joint Research Center:  Session Chair
  • Saran Sohi, University of Edinburgh:  “Biochar C sequestration potential”
  • Frank Verheijen, EC Joint Research Center:  “Biochar effects on soils”
  • Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University:  “Biochar Systems”

Wednesday, 9 December, 2009 Vartov World Cafe Presentation

Time: 12:30 pm - 2:00pm
Location: Vartov World Cafe, large yurt near the NGO Klimaforum in Christiania
Event: Presentation on Case Studies in Carbon Negative Ecovillages: Biochar Energy, Carbon Farming, and Climate-Adaptive Built Environments

Description: Albert Bates will give a 90 minute presentation on Case Studies in Carbon Negative Ecovillages and include information on Biochar. He will also have an example of a biochar stove supplied by Nathaniel Mulcahy from World Stove. Contact Troels Dilling-Hansen and ask for a copy of the Klimaforum program guide for more information.

Wednesday, 9 December, 2009 Bellona Foundation Side Event

Time: 4:45-5:45 pm
Location: Bellona’s Conference Room, Bella Center
Organizers: The Bellona Foundation
Title: Biochar – delivering fast climate benefits?

Description:
With recent reports suggesting faster than expected global warming, it is becoming increasingly clear that carbon negative strategies are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change. Biochar is seen by many scientists and policy makers as a promising solution for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Some even argue that biochar is a so-called fast mitigation measure – one that can achieve deep, early reduction in the growth of atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.
Biochar is a fine grained, charcoal like product obtained when biomass is heated in a closed container under limited supply of air. The climate effect is achieved when the biochar is spread on agricultural soils where it improves the soil and sequesters carbon for thousands of years. Biochar can also have a positive climate benefit by replacing fossil fuels in energy and industrial applications.
Biochar addresses four key areas relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation:

  1. Climate mitigation: Removal of CO2 from the atmosphere through long-term soil carbon sequestration
  2. Energy production: The process of making biochar (pyrolysis) also generates useful bioenergy
  3. Soil improvement: Addition of biochar to soils has been found to increase agricultural yield
  4. Organic waste management: Biochar could potentially offer an environmentally friendly way to handle waste

Put in context, these value chains have the potential to increase food and energy security and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The technology is robust and simple, and it has the potential to sequester large amounts of carbon in soils.

Panel scope
There will be brief presentation of biochar and ongoing research by Bioforsk, a Norwegian Research Centre, followed by a panel discussion. This session will discuss the potential of biochar, the need for policy, regulations, monitoring, economic hurdles, carbon credit barriers/enablers, scalability and the importance of sustainability criteria. Further themes include the developing countries perspective, recognition of soils as a carbon sink and the inclusion of biochar methods in a post-2012 climate protocol.
On the panel

  • Dr. Johannes Lehmann University of Cornell
  • Debbie Reed IBI 
  • Thomas Harrtung Green Carbon Denmark
  • Nathaniel Mulcahy WorldStove

Saturday, 12 December, 2009 Biochar Booth at Agriculture and Rural Development Day

Time: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE), University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, DENMARK
The North Sea Regional Biochar Group will host a biochar booth at the Agriculture and Rural Development Day (more information at: http://www.agricultureday.org) or contact Rob van Haren

Saturday, 12 December, 2009 Official Side Event hosted by IBI

Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Victor Borg Room at Meetings
Organizers: The International Biochar Initiative
Title: Biochar: Climate Mitigation & Adaptation with Food and Energy Security Benefits

Description:
IBI and UNCCD will discuss emerging issues and current science related to biochar and links to food and energy security in developing countries and drylands. Data on water retention, increased crop yields from field studies, joint work and projects underway, R&D roadmap in dryland areas.