What are the Implications for Public Policy in New Zealand regarding Biochar as a Climate Change Mitigation Tool?

Large Scale ◽

Research Policy ◽

Wood Processing ◽

Stakeholder Groups ◽

Satisfactory Outcome ◽

<p>The past years have seen biochar appearing on the political radar as a potential greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation tool. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that is produced from smouldering biomass in oxygen-starved conditions in a kiln. The resulting light and highly porous material can be applied to soil where it has been suggested that it sequesters carbon and increases soil fertility. This research surveys the current scientific understanding of biochar and the institutional framework pertinent to climate change mitigation and potential future biochar deployment in NZ. This is complemented by empirical data, gathered via semi-structured interviews and online surveys. The stakeholder groups determined for the purpose of this study are agriculture (with an emphasis on organic agriculture), forestry and wood processing, bioenergy/biochar businesses, research institutions and government agencies. There is no recognition of biochar in international compliance carbon markets at present and the debate about biochar's future inclusion is ongoing. Biochar performance in soils is highly variable depending on feedstock, manufacturing conditions, soil type and climate to name a few. Scientific uncertainties are related to the permanence of carbon storage in biochar, its agronomic benefits when applied to soil and its life cycle performance in terms of greenhouse gases and energy. While research into a more detailed understanding of biochar is underway, there is still a lack of large-scale and long-term field trials both internationally and domestically. In this context, public policy is faced with decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty. Theory suggests some guidance in the form of environmental policy principles such as the sustainability and Precautionary Principles. General policy criteria, including effectiveness, efficiency, equity, compliance with international obligations and political and social acceptability, as well as innovation theory are also proposed as a theoretical framework against which to assess the viability of biochar in a NZ setting. Results suggest that biochar deployment in NZ may be a boutique solution for niche applications rather than a large-scale commercial opportunity. Biochar research in NZ is nascent, yet future policy decision-making depends on its outcomes to assess the merits of biochar for NZ. If biochar technology is to be diffused in NZ, policy will need to carefully craft legislation and incentive structures so as to ensure a sustainable pathway. Various stakeholder groups need to be consulted throughout the decision-making process. Transparency is key to building trust and understanding about the potentials and pitfalls of biochar deployment in NZ. A public debate and continuous dialogue between the research, policy, practitioners and other communities is required to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome.</p>

A framework for the cross-sectoral integration of multi-model impact projections: land use decisions under climate impacts uncertainties

Earth System Dynamics ◽

10.5194/esd-6-447-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 447-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

K. Frieler ◽

A. Levermann ◽

J. Elliott ◽

J. Heinke ◽

A. Arneth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Land Use ◽

Large Scale ◽

Impact Model ◽

Natural Carbon ◽

Change Mitigation ◽

Biome Model

Abstract. Climate change and its impacts already pose considerable challenges for societies that will further increase with global warming (IPCC, 2014a, b). Uncertainties of the climatic response to greenhouse gas emissions include the potential passing of large-scale tipping points (e.g. Lenton et al., 2008; Levermann et al., 2012; Schellnhuber, 2010) and changes in extreme meteorological events (Field et al., 2012) with complex impacts on societies (Hallegatte et al., 2013). Thus climate change mitigation is considered a necessary societal response for avoiding uncontrollable impacts (Conference of the Parties, 2010). On the other hand, large-scale climate change mitigation itself implies fundamental changes in, for example, the global energy system. The associated challenges come on top of others that derive from equally important ethical imperatives like the fulfilment of increasing food demand that may draw on the same resources. For example, ensuring food security for a growing population may require an expansion of cropland, thereby reducing natural carbon sinks or the area available for bio-energy production. So far, available studies addressing this problem have relied on individual impact models, ignoring uncertainty in crop model and biome model projections. Here, we propose a probabilistic decision framework that allows for an evaluation of agricultural management and mitigation options in a multi-impact-model setting. Based on simulations generated within the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP), we outline how cross-sectorally consistent multi-model impact simulations could be used to generate the information required for robust decision making. Using an illustrative future land use pattern, we discuss the trade-off between potential gains in crop production and associated losses in natural carbon sinks in the new multiple crop- and biome-model setting. In addition, crop and water model simulations are combined to explore irrigation increases as one possible measure of agricultural intensification that could limit the expansion of cropland required in response to climate change and growing food demand. This example shows that current impact model uncertainties pose an important challenge to long-term mitigation planning and must not be ignored in long-term strategic decision making.

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

What can cities do to increase resilience?

10.1098/rsta.2007.2081 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 365 (1860) ◽

pp. 2731-2739 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

David Crichton

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Public Policy ◽

Decision Making ◽

Insurance Industry ◽

New Technology ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

The Usa ◽

This paper examines climate change mitigation and adaptation from an insurance industry perspective, with particular reference to London and the USA. It illustrates how British insurers are increasingly shaping public policy and using new technology to manage the risks from climate change impacts and makes a plea for society to make more use of insurance expertise in future decision making. In particular, more dialogue is needed between architects, planners and insurers to adapt our buildings and cities for climate change impacts. The paper is an abbreviated and updated version of the paper presented by the author in Houston, Texas, in 2005.

Aiding multi-level decision-making processes for climate change mitigation and adaptation

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1307/6/39/392006 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (39) ◽

pp. 392006

Author(s):

Katherine Anne Daniell ◽

M A Mdnez Costa ◽

N Ferrand ◽

M Vassileva ◽

F Aix ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

Multi Level ◽

Capturing complexity: Forests, decision-making and climate change mitigation action

Global Environmental Change ◽

10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.07.012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 238-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M.J. Klapwijk ◽

J. Boberg ◽

J. Bergh ◽

K. Bishop ◽

C. Björkman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Mitigation Action ◽

The Manokwari Declaration: Challenges ahead in conserving 70% of Tanah Papua’s forests

Forest and Society ◽

10.24259/fs.v3i1.6067 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 148 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rodrigo Cámara-Leret ◽

Andre Schuiteman ◽

Timothy Utteridge ◽

Gemma Bramley ◽

Richard Deverell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Large Scale ◽

New Guinea ◽

Global Impact ◽

Se Asia ◽

Impact On Biodiversity ◽

The Manokwari Declaration is an unprecedented pledge by the governors of Indonesia’s two New Guinea provinces to promote conservation and become SE Asia’s new Costa Rica. This is an exciting, yet challenging endeavour that will require working on many fronts that transcend single disciplines. Because Indonesian New Guinea has the largest expanse of intact forests in SE Asia, large-scale conservation pledges like the Manokwari Declaration will have a global impact on biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

How Can the Context Affect Policy Decision-Making: The Case of Climate Change Mitigation Policies in the Greek Building Sector

Energies ◽

10.3390/en9040294 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 294 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Niki-Artemis Spyridaki ◽

Anastasia Ioannou ◽

Alexandros Flamos

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Building Sector ◽

Policy Decision Making ◽

Change Mitigation ◽

Mitigation Policies

Prospects and Consequences of Repowering Cities

Repowering Cities ◽

10.7591/cornell/9781501740411.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 165-180

Author(s):

Sara Hughes

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Urban Climate ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Scaling Up ◽

Building Capacity ◽

Smart Governance ◽

This concluding chapter highlights the book's major findings and explores the remaining challenges and tradeoffs inherent in today's locally led climate change agenda. While the cities have made demonstrable progress on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they are now facing the challenge of scaling up their efforts as new targets for 2030 loom. The chapter then discusses ways the cities can and are using the governing strategies to do this: by building participatory decision-making institutions, building capacity for climate “smart” governance, and expanding and stabilizing the coalition for climate change mitigation. However, the need for a “big tent” approach to climate change mitigation to make the citywide changes necessary for reducing GHG emissions 80 percent increases the complexity of interests and challenges of coordination. The scope of a viable urban climate change coalition may ultimately set the limits of a locally led mitigation agenda.

Climate change mitigation potential of carbon capture and utilization in the chemical industry

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1821029116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (23) ◽

pp. 11187-11194 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Arne Kätelhön ◽

Raoul Meys ◽

Sarah Deutz ◽

Sangwon Suh ◽

André Bardow

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Oil Consumption ◽

Chemical Production ◽

Carbon Capture And Utilization ◽

Chemical production is set to become the single largest driver of global oil consumption by 2030. To reduce oil consumption and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon dioxide can be captured from stacks or air and utilized as alternative carbon source for chemicals. Here, we show that carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has the technical potential to decouple chemical production from fossil resources, reducing annual GHG emissions by up to 3.5 Gt CO2-eq in 2030. Exploiting this potential, however, requires more than 18.1 PWh of low-carbon electricity, corresponding to 55% of the projected global electricity production in 2030. Most large-scale CCU technologies are found to be less efficient in reducing GHG emissions per unit low-carbon electricity when benchmarked to power-to-X efficiencies reported for other large-scale applications including electro-mobility (e-mobility) and heat pumps. Once and where these other demands are satisfied, CCU in the chemical industry could efficiently contribute to climate change mitigation.