Biochar Production
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Provided by: Project Drawdown|Published on: May 24, 2024
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article introduces biochar as a climate solution and describes its costs, benefits, and feasibility.
- Students will learn the specifics of biochar production, the benefits biochar has on the soil, and the carbon sequestration potential of biochar.
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Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Project Drawdown
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article is transparent about the study's limitations and is written in a scientific paper format.
- The article includes a "What You Can Do" section with action items, such as using biochar as a soil amendment.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students may need the terms pyrolysis, biomass, leaching, and others defined before reading the article.
- Students should understand carbon sequestration and its importance.
Differentiation
- This article can enhance an outdoor activity where students learn how to apply biochar to soil.
- Students can use this article for an informative essay on different kinds of carbon sinks and their environmental importance.
- This article can support a lesson on the biochar industry, its history, and its potential for positive impacts.
- After reading the article, students can brainstorm ways to increase the production and implementation of biochar nationwide.
- To make language arts connections, students can look at the origins of the term "silver bullet" used in the concluding paragraph and discuss its meaning in this context.
This resource assesses upscaling biochar production as a carbon sequestration solution. The article analyzes two scenarios for impacts on carbon emissions, sequestration, and yield and considers the cost. This resource introduces biochar production, but more data and figures would make it more valuable. This resource is well-sourced, with several peer-reviewed references, and is recommended for teaching.
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Project Drawdown
Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
