Comparison of Biochar's IPCC Inventory Methodology and Certification Criteria

To stabilize the climate crisis, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions should reach net-zero within decades. Achieving this requires the removal of atmospheric CO₂ to offset the emissions that are difficult to eliminate. Among the various methods of carbon removal (biological, chemical, and geochemical), a large-scale land-based biological CO₂ removal practice, such as carbon sequestration through biochar, is necessary. For this purpose, the government should first establish the quality standard for biochar. Europe has developed the European Biochar Certificate for soil carbon sequestration and material products, which is a voluntary biochar industrial standard. The United States has formed the International Biochar Initiative for soil carbon sequestration, which is used internationally. Biochar is classified for regulation based on its use as general (organic carbon content and H/C_org ratio) and toxic (e.g., heavy metals). The government needs to establish the standards for each type, and only materials meeting the standard should be recognized as a GHG sink as per the GHG inventory of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In a carbon market with the potential for further growth, only biochar that satisfies such certification standards should be exchanged during emission trading. Under these circumstances, the European Commission has established a Carbon Removal Certification Regulation and proposed four certification criteria quantification, additionality, long-term storage, and sustainability. Before quantitatively identifying the contribution of biochar to carbon removal, it is essential for the government to establish a certification standard.