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Biochar for climate change mitigation

TL;DR: Biochar is one of the most scalable, verifiable, and permanent carbon removal solutions available today. This guide explains how it works, how it's measured, and how it's integrated into carbon markets—so you can understand, build, or invest in real climate impact.

The removal gap

Cutting emissions slows the damage. But it doesn’t fix the problem. The carbon already in the atmosphere continues to warm the planet, drive extreme weather, and push natural systems toward irreversible thresholds. Climate stabilization now requires more than mitigation. It requires removal.

Even in optimistic scenarios, emissions won’t fall fast enough to meet global temperature goals. CO₂ levels have already passed 420 parts per million. That’s higher than anything seen in millions of years. Emissions reductions are essential—but they only slow the rate of accumulation. They don’t address the surplus that’s already in the air.

Why carbon removal is necessary

To stay below 2 °C of warming—and have any chance at 1.5 °C—models consistently show that billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide will need to be pulled out of the atmosphere and stored. This is the “removal gap”: the difference between what emissions cuts can achieve and what the climate system actually demands. The IPCC’s latest pathways rely on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in the range of 5 to 10 gigatonnes per year by mid-century.

Not every method qualifies. To count as removal, a solution must be permanent, additional, and verifiable. Many land-based practices fail one or more of these tests. Biochar passes all three.

Example: Exomad Green’s industrial-scale pyrolysis plant in Riberalta, Bolivia, processes sawmill residues and stores up to 120,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Verified credits are sold through Puro.earth.

Why biochar works

Biochar works because it stabilizes plant carbon before it decomposes. It turns biomass into a solid form of carbon that resists decay and can be stored in soil or used in materials.

From photosynthesis to permanence

Plants capture carbon. Pyrolysis stabilizes it. High-temperature, low-oxygen processing removes volatiles and locks carbon into aromatic structures. That’s what makes biochar last for hundreds to thousands of years. It’s not just buried carbon—it’s chemically altered and slow to degrade.

Biochar’s stability depends on H/C ratio, production temperature, and application context. The best biochars reach over 70% fixed carbon with predictable decay rates.

Beyond storage: avoided emissions and co-products

If biomass decays, it releases methane. If it burns, it emits CO₂. Turning it into biochar avoids those emissions. Pyrolysis also yields heat, syngas, and bio-oil—co-products that can displace fossil fuels.

Quantifying the climate benefit

You can’t sell what you can’t measure. Biochar carbon removal is built on transparent carbon accounting.

Carbon flows and impact

Carbon benefit = carbon stored – emissions from production + avoided emissions + displaced emissions – losses or leakage.

Example: A 10,000-tonne rice husk project at 450 °C could yield 3,000 tonnes of biochar with 75% carbon. If 80% of that remains stable, that’s over 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ removed—plus any displacement benefit from recovered heat.

MRV: monitoring, reporting, verification

Projects log biomass source, pyrolysis parameters, yield, carbon testing, and application. Registries like Puro.earth require third-party validation, lab testing, and public traceability to issue CO₂ Removal Certificates (CORCs).

Carbon markets: From kiln to credit

Biochar removals are traded as carbon credits. But they must follow strict protocols to ensure permanence, traceability, and integrity.

Methodologies and crediting

A project follows an approved methodology—such as Puro Standard for biochar—to assess removals, apply for verification, and receive CORCs.

Credits are only issued after the carbon has been removed and verified. This is called ex-post crediting.

What buyers look for

Buyers want long-term storage, verifiable processes, and registry accountability. Co-benefits like soil health or local employment are nice—but permanence is king.

Price point: In 2023, biochar CORCs traded between €100 and €180 per tonne.

Scaling with confidence

Advance purchase agreements, aggregated smallholder projects, and digital MRV platforms are expanding the market. Programs like Puro Accelerate help new producers scale with early revenue and buyer partnerships.

Risks and safeguards

Credible projects must address:

  • Permanence: ensure long-term carbon stability.
  • Leakage: confirm biomass isn’t diverted from other beneficial uses
  • Equity: avoid land grabs or feedstock overharvesting
  • Verification: use conservative assumptions and third-party validation

The biochar carbon ecosystem

Biochar isn’t just about the char. It’s about the network.

  • Producers convert biomass into stable carbon
  • Buyers fund verified removals
  • Aggregators bundle small-scale production into certifiable volumes
  • Verifiers ensure quality and transparency
  • Tech providers build reactors and MRV systems
  • Policy actors align incentives and remove barriers
  • Investors de-risk and scale innovation
  • Educators and advocates explain the system, build trust, and push for access

Want to get involved? Whether you're building a kiln, buying credits, or connecting producers—you’re part of the solution.

What’s next?

Interested in producing carbon-negative biochar? Looking to purchase high-integrity removals? Want to bring small projects into carbon markets?

📬 Download the e-book for free.

Let’s build a credible carbon future—one tonne at a time.